AfricanColours - FOCUS11 - Contemporary Art Africa

International Tue 07-06-2011

FOCUS11 - Contemporary Art Africa
Press Release

In its third edition FOCUS once again presents contemporary art and art production from Africa and the African Diaspora. FOCUS is designed as a complement to Art Basel (June 15.-19. 2011). FOCUS11 showcases galleries and art institutions and features a series of emerging and established artists in a show curated by Christine Eyene (London).

In a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, visitors can expect a huge variety of artistic production from the diverse scenes of the African continent and from the African Diaspora. This year's accompanying programme starts with a symposium and ranges from performances to artist talks to workshops and guided tours.

Through its cooperation with four galleries and art centres in Africa and Europe, FOCUS11 provides a wide range of artistic positions and international perspectives. FOCUS11 offers a singular platform for African artistic practise during Art Basel.

Alongside the Gallery Peter Herrmann (Berlin), which already participated in the previous edition, this year, the IF Gallery (Paris) and Strip of Gaza (Lagos) will be present, as well as the Gallery Doual'art (Douala), a well-known artist-forge of the African continent.

At the same time FOCUS11 showcases an exhibition of up-and-coming artist who applied for FOCUS with a specific project. From numerous applicants curator Christine Eyene (London) selected 14 artists, whose topics, aesthetic approach, choice of medium and technique are innovative, reflect new trends of the art scene in Africa and the Diaspora and whose practice is relevant within the context of Art Basel – the world's leading art fair.

The exhibition includes a broad variety of artistic positions and strategies and spans an array from young, aspiring talents to well-established artists: Photographic images (Nirveda Alleck, Natalie Mba Bikoro, Graeme Williams, Ato Malinda, Mohau Modisakeng), paintings (Jan-Henri Booyens) and collage (Steve Bandoma) accompany moving images in animation, film and video-installations (Mohamed Ghazala, Rowan Pybus, Youssef Tabti, Ntando Cele) and room installations (Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo, Fabrice Wamba). Further highlights are the various live-performances (Ntando Cele, Natalie Mba Bikoro).

FOCUS11 also offers its visitors the possibility to take action – for example in the interactive performance of Cameroonian artist Fabrice Temagna Wamba: Draw with me invites visitors to join the artist in temporary, large-scale sand-drawings. With an artistic intervention by Youssef Tabti FOCUS11 will also be present within the inner city of Basel: Circulating postcards as mobile images are the artist's comment on the refugee policy of the EU.

FOCUS11 is accompanied by a multifold programme: It kicks off with the Symposium@FOCUS11 (June 11.-12. 2011) which explores forms of live-performances. Artists and theorists alike will discuss the scope of live-performance as an artistic strategy. During the show visitors can expect artist talks, workshops, panel discussions and performances.

FOCUS11 Map

A novelty of FOCUS11 is its art and education programme. In the exhibition space explainers entitled "doubleFocus" wait for you to look at the artworks together and discuss art, artists and the festival. Besides FOCUS11 offers practical workshops for schools and guided tours for everyone.

In a global context where African galleries remain largely marginalized from mainstream art fairs, FOCUS11 will provide a critical platform for positioning African artists as players in the international art arena during the world’s most important art fair.

The unique mixture of established institutions, independent artists and a wide range of supporting programs will undoubtedly turn FOCUS11 into an extraordinary experience and create an atmosphere of encounter, exchange and creative reflection.

Visit www.focus11.ch for further information about the venue of FOCUS11 as well as comprehensive media documentation.

Posted By: Allan Kapten

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