New exhibition aims to broaden understanding of Africa through art and cultural history

A new exhibition in western Germany is hoping to expand the public’s perception of Africa via art and cultural history. “The True Size of Africa” is at the Völklingen Ironworks and features works by artists from across the continent. Photographic portraits, paintings, video installations, and sculpture—26 works that organizers say explore Africa, addressing its cultural history, intellectual traditions, and challenging stereotypes. “We underestimate the whole role in history and the own history Africa had before colonialism. All this is part of this show, and this is what we aim to show: how big the influence was from African people because they were forced to leave Africa,” explains Dr. Ralf Beil, the curator of the exhibition. Artists on show here come from countries across the continent, including Nigeria, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Namibia, South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Kenya. One particularly striking work by artist Roméo Mivekannin is made up of a large number of hanging portraits, including famous faces like that of former U.S. President Barack Obama and current Vice President Kamala Harris. Also on display are works by artists with African roots, including Cubans and the British. “The true size of Africa is not only basically the continent, the geographical continent of Africa, but also outside, expanding to other places in the world—Las Americas, the Caribbean, Europe. So for me, it’s like a big family all over the world,” says Susana Pilar Delahante Matienzo, an artist from Cuba, now living in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Kongo Astronauts is a collective from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their video installation uses the image of astronauts to take aim at the current situation in their country. “The world needs to be sincere about knowing that. And as an artist, in my way, I tried to convey that message via the astronauts,” says artist Pisko Crâne. Organizers say they hope the show will finally put an end to what they describe as “the underestimation” of the African continent. This article was provided by The Associated Press.