Àsìkò Maputo
22 June–18 July 2015
The Fort
Samora Michel Avenue
Maputo
Mozambique
CCA, Lagos is pleased to present Àsìkò, the 5th edition of its international art programme under the title A History of Contemporary Art in Mozambique in 4 Weeks. In 2010 CCA, Lagos began an innovative programme with the aims of filling a gap in the art education curricula in Nigeria and other African countries, which tend to ignore the critical methodologies and histories that underpin artistic practice. Using the format of part art laboratory, part residency and part informal art academy, over the course of 28 intensive days The History of Contemporary Art in Mozambique in 4 weeks will focus partially on technique and primarily on methodology, critical thinking, and the implementation of conceptual ideas as well as the development and role of curatorial practice.
After two successful programmes in Lagos, On Independence and The Ambivalence of Promise (2010) and History/Materiality in 2012, for the first time the initiative took on an itinerant characteristic by moving to another West African country (Accra, Ghana in 2013 and Dakar, Senegal in 2014) as a way of its continuous engagement with the rest of the continent. In 2015, the programme continues its itinerary by moving across the continent for the first time to engage with southern and eastern African context and with the history and culture of a Lusophone country, Mozambique.
For the 5th edition, Àsìkò continues with an open discursive model that allows the research interests of both the participants and the faculty to be highlighted. Using the 40th anniversary of Mozambican independence celebrated on 25 June 2015 as a starting point, we attempt to engage the collective histories of the Frontline states of eastern and southern Africa to explore African and African Diaspora cultural production as well as ideas of decoloniality as espoused by Argentinian scholar Walter Mignolo.
As part of its core programme Àsìkò includes the curatorial lab which has become an integral component of the initiative. Begun in 2012 in response to an urgent need for more curators on the continent, the participants will be encouraged to develop their research methodologies and critical writing skills as well as engage closely with artists in the programme from across the continent and with experienced art professionals from around the world.
Àsìkò is led by a distinguished visiting faculty of artists, art historians, and curators including: Leo Asemota (Nigeria/UK), Berry Bickle (Zimbabwe), Filipe Branquinho (Mozambique), Jorge Fernandes (Mozambique), Tamar Garb (UK), Joseph Gaylard (South Africa), Valerie Kabov (Zimbabwe), Rafael Mouzinho (Mozambique), Hilario Pompei (Mozambique), Nontsikelelo Mutiti (Zimbabwe), Mimi Cherono Ng’ok (Kenya), Nontobela Ntombela (South Africa), Nii Obodai (Ghana), Mauro Pinto (Mozambique), Hilario ‘Gemuce’ Pompilio (Mozambique), Gabriela Salgado (Argentina/UK), Dana Whabira (Zimbabwe) and Zoe Whitley (UK/USA)
Participants
Artists
Euridice Kala (Mozambique), Gladys Kalichini (Zambia), Kelvin Haizel (Ghana), Mario Macilau (Mozambique), David ‘Daut’ Makala (Zambia), Mapopa Hussein Manda (Zambia), Nancy Mteki (Zimbabwe), Mulenga J Mulenga (Zambia), Ian Mwesiga (Uganda), Anderu Immaculate Mali (Uganda) and Gresham Nyaude (Zimbabwe)
Curators
Rose Jepkorir (Kenya), Gadi Ramadhani (Tanzania) and Fitsum Tefera (Ethiopia)
Guest Observers
Londiwe Langa(South Africa)
Same Mdluli (South Africa)
Sandra Shakespeare (UK)
A History of Contemporary Art in Mozambique in 4 Weeks has been conceived and developed by the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos.
Project Curator: Bisi Silva, Project Coordinator: Erin M. Rice
CCA, Lagos gratefully acknowledges the partnership of Nucleo des Artes and the management of the Fort of Maputo.
For further information please contact:
Erin Rice: admin [at] asikoartschool.org
Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos
9 McEwen Street
Sabo, Yaba,
Lagos, Nigeria
T +234 (0) 815580 7542
