'For a Sustainable World': Recontres de Bamako 2011
Jo Ractliffe, Lien Botha, Brent Meistre, David Goldblatt, Hasan and Husain Essop, Daniel Naude, Pieter Hugo, Sabelo Mlangeni and Tracey Rose at Bamako Photography BiennialThe 2011 edition of the 'Rencontres' offers a reflection on the quest for a sustainable world, with special attention to the signs and forms of resistance possible. The strong adherence to the theme proposed only confirmed the social and political commitment of African artists. Environmental concerns, once limited to a small circle of visionaries, are now part of our daily lives and are at the heart of all debates. If economic liberalism, based on the consumer society, emerged to improve productivity and development, it also, and above all, increased inequality at the expense of basic respect for people and their environments.
In 2010, many African countries celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their independence. For many, this event was the time to take stock of national achievements and to look critically at political and social structures, as well as the distribution of wealth. For these 'Rencontres', we invited photographers and videographers to witness, to denounce, but also to identify areas for action, evidence of resistance or prevention, and the possibilities for the construction of a sustainable world. The variety of themes and languages ??chosen by the artists provides a survey of the diverse artistic production today on the continent and in the diaspora.
The Pan-African Exhibit, in the temporary exhibition rooms of the National Museum of Mali, brings together 45 photographers and 10 videographers from 27 countries, including a number from South Africa. Other South African artists, including Tracey Rose, appear in 'A World Beyond the World': The Sindika Dokolo Collection, and there is also a 'Monograph' exhibition of David Goldblatt's work.
01 November - 01 January
