Africa Now: Political Patterns

On December 16th 2014, the Seoul Museum of Art premiered its first major exhibit in Korea featuring over 20 African artists in, "Africa Now- Political Patterns". Africa Now features over 20 artists whose practices serve as a meeting point for Africa’s political situation and the semantics and aesthetics of traditional patterns. Being the first in Korea to introduce contemporary African art, it also sets out to represent post-colonial, diaspora, and non-Western art by presenting the current states of African art. The exhibition presents a wide array of artists, from those who struggle with their minority identities as African immigrants residing in Europe or North America, such as Yinka Shonibare and Chris Ofili, to those who address epics on nationalism or religious conflicts in post-colonial Africa, such as Goncalo Mabunda and Rachid Koraichi. The exhibition aims to examine the basis of post-colonialism, and also contemplate on the meaning of African diaspora art, which can be traced back to Western colonialism and slavery. This would allow us to explore the critical viewpoints on Western-centrism and the racial and multicultural issues that occur on a global level. Ultimately, considering Korea’s situation in which multiculturalism has become an issue of increasing seriousness, the exhibition will provide an opportunity to assess the social awareness and attitude toward a multicultural setting. Africa Now: Political Patterns is on view at the Seoul Museum of Art until February 15th 2015. http://sema.seoul.go.kr