ARS 11 Is Africa

For many years I have wanted to produce an exhibition that would use art to make Africa real for the art audience. I do not just want to show things, but rather to make people experience Africa with all their senses, fully and deeply.

Since a single exhibition would be too restricted for such a broad concept, we have decided that the next ARS exhibition, to be held in 2011, will be on the theme of Africa. Our aim is not to mount something unprecedented or sensational on African contemporary art, but to present our own view of what is topical and interesting right now. There have been few extensive reviews of African contemporary art in Finland. Also, I feel that this is the right moment for this exhibition. Africa is today more topical than ever.

TOILING UNDER THE PRESSURES OF CHANGE

From the perspective of modern geography, Africa seems to be far removed from Finland. It is a world of its own in miniature. I myself am particularly interested in Sub-Saharan Africa –an area of contrasts where the world’s greatest riches and beauty are found side by side with unspeakable poverty and ugliness. People’s lives are ruled by the forces of culture and history, but also by changes that threaten basic human rights and the preconditions for a decent life. These forces of change often leave the individual stranded. We too are blinded to the distress of individual people. In the news, Africa is generally mentioned in conjunction with news about natural catastrophes, famine, AIDS or national emergencies. These things reportedly affect millions of people – in the light of such numbers, the life of one individual often seems meaningless.

Contemporary art gives us an opportunity to hear better the voice of the individual. When we think of African art, traditional techniques and interpretations are what frequently come to mind first. However, urban culture and urbanisation are giving rise to new perspectives and art movements that reflect the present state of affairs in Africa. Enabled by advanced technologies, faster communications are creating new opportunities for artists. African media art is unique and is developing rapidly. The sensitivity of artists to change and their ability to portray that change through art bring us closer to a personal, private experience of what is really happening in Africa. The artist is the voice of the individual.

Our aim in Kiasma is to present a comprehensive and fresh view of contemporary culture in Africa. Because African culture has for centuries been developing also beyond the African continent, we will not restrict our exhibition concept exclusively to artists living in Africa, or even to artists who consider themselves Africans. Instead of geographical location, the main thing is to arrive at a concept that will communicate a sense of a culture that is alive and developing and that has discovered its own voice.

AN UNEASY MELTING POT

Africa is an uneasy melting pot of hundreds of different cultures, religions, languages and social structures. There are more than 50 states in postcolonial Africa. African societies suffer from coups, tribal clashes, human rights violations and ubiquitous corruption. The life of ordinary people is circumscribed by a shortage of food and of basic information. At the same time, Westerntype welfare is growing in the cities, with an influx of Western goods and corporations. From afar, the continent we know as traditional Africa seems to be suffering from chronic poverty that is linked to traditional culture and livelihoods. The affluent class has adopted Western culture and Western symbols, but at the expense of the indigenous culture. At the same time, pride in African cultural heritage and its symbols is rearing its head in the southern parts of the continent.

Our challenge is to explore this region of contrasts and prejudice through art. However, I do not want to offer just one truth about Africa, or even about African contemporary art. I do not believe there is such a truth. I hope that ARS11 will offer a new perspective on what we regard as our own heritage. Many of the customs and beliefs we consider European or Western can be traced back to Africa and the beginning of the human race. Africa is a huge opportunity. At the same time, it remains one of the principal mysteries of the future.

50 YEARS OF ARS EXHIBITIONS

I began my work as Director of Kiasma in the aftermath of the ARS06 exhibition, and of course I took a great interest in the formation of earlier ARS exhibitions as well. For me, the ARS exhibition is a challenge and an opportunity. It is one of the bestknown and most talkedabout phenomena in contemporary art in Finland. The public returns again and again to the works and artists on show in the ARS exhibitions. Many of the works have been purchased for the Kiasma Collection, and as a continuing institution in contemporary art, ARS also plays a part in giving artists a spot in the limelight. ARS touches people, in both good and bad ways. It is like a breathing space in the hectic world of contemporary art – an opportunity to focus, concentrate and immerse oneself in art. For these reasons I am happy that I could bring with me the idea of Africa as a theme for the ARS exhibition.

The next ARS exhibition in Kiasma will be mounted in 2011. The year also marks the 50th anniversary of ARS exhibitions. Through its content, ARS11 will review the very best of contemporary art, but at the same time it will also explore links to its own past of half a century. The anniversary will also be celebrated in several satellite exhibitions in Finland and abroad. The spread of the ARS theme over many different locations will not only reach new audiences, but also establish new perspectives on the common theme.

Berndt Arell
Director, Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art