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Africa Supernova

24.09.2023 - 07.01.2024

The contemporary African painting collection of Carla and Pieter Schulting: on view at Kunsthal KAdE through Jan. 7.

Artist(s):
Alice Mann
Mashudu Nevhutalu
Serge Alain Nitegeka
Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi
Jean David Nkot
Lunga Ntila
Kelechi Nwaneri
Kaloki Nyamai
Johnson Ocheja
Emma Odumade
Olamide Ogunade
Lord Ohene
Oliver Okolo
Niyi Olagunju
Godwin Champs Namuyimba
Cassi Namoda
Wangechi Mutu
Kojo Marfo
Manyaku Mashilo
Wonder Buhle Mbambo
Dankyi Mensah
Cristina de Middel
Sungi Mlengeya
Miska Mohmmed
Lerato Motaung
Baudouin Mouanda
Zanele Muholi
Richard Mudariki
Cinthia Sifa Mulanga
Thandiwe Muriu
Ayanfe Olarinde
Babajide Olatunji
Eniwaye Oluwaseyi
Mary Sibande
Ngadi Smart
Ephrem Solomon
Sanlé Sory
Moffat Takadiwa
Nirit Takele
Barthélémy Toguo
Zandile Tshabalala
Chukwudubem Ukaigwe
Lina Iris Viktor
Didier Viodé
Lulama Wolf
Saint Etienne Yeanzi
Tschabalala Self
Collin Sekajugo
Deborah Segun
Oluwole Omofemi
Araba Opoku
David Otaru
Adjaratou Ouedraogo
Dawit L. Petros
Thebes Phetogo
Aviwe Plaatjie
Zizipho Poswa
Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe
Talia Ramkilawan
Athi-Patra Ruga
Chéri Samba
César Schofield Cardoso
Luyanda Zindela
Kelani Abass
Richard Butler Bowdon
CATPC
Edson Chagas
Kudzanai Chiurai
Joana Choumali
Feni Chulumanco
Soly Cissé
Serge Attukwei Clottey
Alioune Diagne
Omar Victor Diop
Wabi Dossou
Matthew Eguavoen
Victor Ekpuk
Sesse Elangwe
Frédéric Bruly Bouabré
Armand Boua
Adel Abdessemed
Stacey Gillian Abe
Aboudia
Tyna Adebowale
Tunji Adeniyi-Jones
Annan Affotey
Amina Agueznay
Joel Andrianomearisoa
Boris Anje a.k.a. Anjel
Cornelius Annor
Ajarb Bernard Ategwa
Richard Atugonza
Carlos Blaaker
Kwesi Botchway
Esiri Erheriene-Essi
Johnson Eziefula
Dada Khanyisa
Lindokuhle Khumalo
Ayogu Kingsley
Abdoulaye Konaté
Tegene Kunbi
Laetitia Ky
Joy Labinjo
Wole Lagunju
Moshekwa Langa
Sthenjwa Luthuli
Zemba Luzamba
Gonçalo Mabunda
John Madu
Turiya Magadlela
Matt Kayem
Bonolo Kavula
Leila Rose Fanner
Osvaldo Ferreira
Sanaa Gateja
Prince Gyasi
Hassan Hajjaj
Dan Halter
Fathi Hassan
Lubaina Himid
Isshaq Ismail
Jack Kabangu
Kiripi Katembo
Dr. Esther Mahlangu
Marlene Dumas
Samson Kambalu
Neo Matloga
Simphiwe Ndzube

African art has boomed in recent years. It reflects the self-awareness of the continent as a whole and the way African artists look at their personal surroundings and their position in the world. In the past five years Carla and Pieter Schulting acquired a large collection of paintings - supplemented by some sculptures and photographs - from all parts of Africa, giving a nice insight into the current development of African painting. Many of the artists in the collection have themselves or their immediate surroundings as a subject, using portraiture, genre scenes and abstraction to convey their message. 

'The exhibition is an explosion of colors and energy, exactly as the title Africa Supernova promises.' (Wed.) 

On display are works by 154 different artists from 33 African countries. Cores are formed by artists from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia) and North Africa. Although never complete, the collection gives a layered picture of how African artists reflect on their self-image and how their imagination radiates to the whole world.    

Africa Supernova. Collection contemporary African art of Carla & Pieter Schulting is from Sept. 24 through Jan. 7 on view at Kunsthal KAdE.

Interview with collectors Carla and Pieter Schulting

Additional information about the exhibition:

Kunsthal KAdE is showing the collection of African art of Carla and Pieter Schulting. Over the past five years, they have assembled an extensive collection of 170 artworks by 154 artists from 33 African countries and the African Diaspora. The exhibition Africa Supernova presents a cross-section of the collection, showing how diverse, complex and promising the artistic development of contemporary African art is. Centers are artists from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia) and North Africa.With a focus on young artists - most are around 30 years old - the exhibition is an anthology from an emerging art scene. Together with Carla and Pieter Schulting, we are eyewitnesses to the blossoming of a group of artists who are storming the art world in the wake of some - now - big names. The focus is on painters, along with a number of sculptors and a growing focus on photography.  

A history of many histories
On view is the work of painters, sculptors and photographers with both intense figurative imagery of their own and a love of outright abstraction. They present Africa from an awareness of how the black body has been treated for centuries. "Contemporary African artists - from this awareness - fold past, present and future into each other," writes Azu Nwagbogu (co-curator Buro Stedelijk, Amsterdam) in his contribution to the catalog, "thus filling a gap (read: wound) that cannot simply be bridged with the self-quotation of figuration." 'It' is not just a political or artistic statement, 'it' is a matter of poise" so says Nwagbogu. Poise as an attitude in the visual language of contemporary African art to give subjects their own value, regardless of context. "The black body is defined by its presence and is overwritten with magnifying symbols. This is an element you not only see but also feel in many works in the Schulting Collection," Nwagbogu said.  

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced," said African-American novelist James Baldwin. Looking at the rich visual vocabulary of the African artists in the Schulting Collection, one senses long histories, many experiences - including traumatic ones - and great stories ready to be told. Exposed from a personal perspective, often with the artists themselves or their friends as the focus, but with universal overtones. A history of many histories, portrayed from specific points of view and individual cultural experiences.   

'Each work of art shows a glimmer of a person, of countries, a population, a subculture, a voice of protest (sometimes too little heard). 'That's why I think I like the fact that there are so many people on display.' - Marian Duff, director Open Space Contemporary Art Museum, Amsterdam-Zuidoost (interview Mister Motley) 

What is African art?
In an interview for the catalog, Carla and Pieter Schulting talk about their passion and their motivation behind collecting African art.  

Pieter Schulting: "What is African art? There really is no such thing, because it is so diverse. An artist from Morocco can make a completely different work than an artist from South Africa. It is of course a huge continent and we also want to show that there are big differences. Personally, since we have been collecting African art, I have gained a different perspective on the continent. Discovering the artworks and meeting people from many different African countries is very educational and inspiring." 

Carla Schulting: "The title Africa Supernova reflects how the art of the African continent has taken the art world by storm in recent years, as if in an explosion. We are only just beginning to discover what the African continent has in store for us. The title was coined by Nigerian curator Azu Nwagbogu, who will curate the Benin Pavilion for next year's Venice Biennale. This title sums up well that our collection is not easily pigeonholed, as varied and diverse as it is. We only collect works that we love, that touch our hearts. It is an explosion of creativity and that is exactly what we want to show." 

Pieter Schulting: "With this exhibition, we want to give an overview of the young artists who are now putting Africa on the world map. We think that when you look back in twenty years, this period will become part of art history."   

The catalog consists of 232 fully illustrated pages featuring their entire collection of art from Africa and the Diaspora. In addition to the interview, it contains two essays, by Azu Nwagbogu and Raphael Dapaah, and about 150 biographies of the artists in the collection.  

"Looking at the rich imagery of the artists in the Schulting Collection, one feels the long history, experiences and great stories ready to be told. Exposed from the personal perspective of the Schultings, but with a universal undertone. 'The future belongs to Africa.' (MUZE) 

Africa Supernova. Collection contemporary African art of Carla & Pieter Schulting is on display at Kunsthal KAdE from September 24 through January 7. 

Participating artists
Kelani Abass (NG), Adel Abdessemed (DZ), Stacey Gillian Abe (UG), Aboudia (CI), Tyna Adebowale (NG), Tunji Adeniyi-Jones (UK), Annan Affotey (GH), Amina Agueznay (MA), Joël Andrianomearisoa (MDG), Boris Anje a.k.a. Anjel (CM), Cornelius Annor (GH), Ajarb Bernard Ategwa (CM), Richard Atugonza (UG), Carlos Blaaker (SR), Kwesi Botchway (GH), Armand Boua (CI), Frédéric Bruly Bouabré (CI), Richard Butler Bowdon (ZA), CATPC (CD), Edson Chagas (AO), Kudzanai Chiurai (SW), Joana Choumali (CI), Feni Chulumanco (ZA), Soly Cissé (SN), Serge Attukwei Clottey (GH), Alioune Diagne (SN), Omar Victor Diop (SN), Wabi Dossou (BJ), Marlene Dumas (ZA), Matthew Eguavoen (NG), Victor Ekpuk (NG), Sesse Elangwe (CM), Esiri Erheriene-Essi (UK), Johnson Eziefula (NG), Leila Rose Fanner (ZA), Osvaldo Ferreira (AO), Sanaa Gateja (UG), Prince Gyasi (GH), Hassan Hajjaj (EG), Dan Halter (SW), Fathi Hassan (EG), Lubaina Himid (Zanzibar | UK), Isshaq Ismail (GH), Jack Kabangu (ZM), Samson Kambalu (MW), Kiripi Katembo (CD), Bonolo Kavula (ZA), Matt Kayem (UG), Dada Khanyisa (ZA), Lindokuhle Khumalo (ZA), Ayogu Kingsley (NG), Abdoulaye Konaté (ML), Tegene Kunbi (ET), Laetitia Ky (CI), Joy Labinjo (UK | NG), Wole Lagunju (NG), Moshekwa Langa (ZA), Sthenjwa Luthuli (ZA), Zemba Luzamba (CD), Gonçalo Mabunda (MZ), John Madu (NG), Turiya Magadlela (ZA), Dr. Esther Mahlangu (ZA), Alice Mann (ZA), Kojo Marfo (GH), Manyaku Mashilo (ZA), Neo Matloga (ZA), Wonder Buhle Mbambo (ZA), Dankyi Mensah (GH), Cristina de Middel (ES), Sungi Mlengeya (TZ), Miska Mohmmed (SD), Lerato Motaung (ZA), Baudouin Mouanda (CG), Zanele Muholi (ZA), Richard Mudariki (SW), Cinthia Sifa Mulanga (CD), Thandiwe Muriu (KE), Wangechi Mutu (KE), Cassi Namoda (MZ), Godwin Champs Namuyimba (UG), Simphiwe Ndzube (ZA), Mashudu Nevhutalu (ZA), Serge Alain Nitegeka (RW), Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi (US | ZA), Jean David Nkot (CM), Lunga Ntila (ZA), Kelechi Nwaneri (NG), Kaloki Nyamai (KE), Johnson Ocheja (NG), Emma Odumade (NG), Olamide Ogunade (NG), Lord Ohene (GH), Oliver Okolo (NG), Niyi Olagunju (NG), Ayanfe Olarinde (NG), Babajide Olatunji (NG), Eniwaye Oluwaseyi (NG), Oluwole Omofemi (NG), Araba Opoku (GH), David Otaru (NG), Adjaratou Ouedraogo (TG), Dawit L. Petros (ER), Thebe Phetogo (BW), Aviwe Plaatjie (ZA), Zizipho Poswa (ZA), Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe (GH), Talia Ramkilawan (ZA), Athi-Patra Ruga (ZA), Chéri Samba (CD), César Schofield Cardoso (CV), Deborah Segun (NG), Collin Sekajugo (UG), Tschabalala Self (USA), Mary Sibande (ZA), Ngadi Smart (SL), Ephrem Solomon (ET), Sanlé Sory (BF), Moffat Takadiwa (SW), Nirit Takele (ET), Barthélémy Toguo (CM), Zandile Tshabalala (ZA), Chukwudubem Ukaigwe (NG), Lina Iris Viktor (LR | UK), Didier Viodé (CI/BJ), Lulama Wolf (ZA), Saint Etienne Yeanzi (CI), Luyanda Zindela (ZA). 

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