Monday, 18 Mar 2024
Category: Interviews

Hassanein Hiridjee: French-Malagasy collector and Patron Fondation H

“Fondation H is a living space, where thoughts, emotions and creativity are made possible.” – Q&A with Hassanein Hiridjee: Patron Fondation H

Following the recent grand opening of its new art space in Antananarivo, START Journal interviews Fondation H’s president, Hassanein Hiridjee, who stands as a key Contemporary Art practitioner on the continent today, with a keen interest in his unique individual

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Exhibition View: When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration In Painting, Zeitz Mocaa, Cape Town (20th November 2022-3rd September 2023) Courtesy of Zeitz Mocaa. Photo: Dillon Marsh

WHEN WE SEE US; A Conversation with Curator Tandazani Dhlakama on the anthology of a Century of Black Figuration in Painting at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa

“…I think for many Black artists and art practitioners practicing today, we are what Taiye Selasi and Achille Mbembe called Afripolitan. We all have a multiplicity of some sort. I am a Zimbabwean curator working in South Africa and it

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Kaleab Abate, Fantasized Reality, 2022 (detail), Mixed Media on Paper, 101.5x101.5cm Courtesy of Afriart Gallery

Kaleab Abate – The In Between

Kaleab Abate’s print works usher us into a complicated space of existence between comfort and distress. The Ethiopian artist who is based in Addis Ababa had his first open studio session in October 2021, after attending a three-month long artist residency in Kampala, Uganda.

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Installation “Afrika is not getting it” from Notes about the times at Modzi Arts by Matt Kayem.

Notes About The Times – Kayem’s response to COVID-19

Covid-19 all caught us all by surprise. Ugandan contemporary artist Matt Kayem had just arrived in Lusaka, Zambia for his art is residency at Modzi Arts when borders closed and there was no return back to his beloved motherland. Trevor Mukholi talks to the artist on phone.

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Artist impression of group photo of participants at the First Conference of African Writer of English Expression, Makerere University, 1962 (Illustration: Dada Khanyisa). Image from Chimurenga Chronic.

Art Crossroads with Ugandan Mastery – Interview with Dr. Kyeyune

In anticipation of a busy creative art season kicking off in August 2018 and the KAB18’s “The Studio” concept launched recently, many contemporary artists and audiences lurk within corridors in search of the creative voice of Makerere Art Gallery amidst the prevailing visual discourse. Philip Balimunsi interviews Professor George Kyeyune, Director of Makerere Art Gallery/Institute of Heritage Conservation and Restoration, about contemporary issues in Uganda. Kyeyune asserts the cultural affluence of Makerere Art Gallery in the East African arts scene.

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Photograph by Sarah Waiswa. Product Of Your Environment (2015)

transFORM#1: A conversation with Afriart Gallery Art director Daudi Karungi

The transFORM #1 Contemporary Art Experience is happening this Saturday 5th December at a warehouse behind the Nakumatt in Bukoto. The event, which is organised in partnership with the Goethe Zentrum Kampala, is widely advertised in the media as an art experience with exhibition and after party with South African DJs. Startjournal met with the organiser Daudi Karungi to find out what was the rational behind the event.

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Another Roadmap Cluster to impact on art education on the continent- Q&A with Wolukau-Wanambwa

Emma Wolukau: The Another Roadmap Africa Cluster are a group of scholars and practitioners of artistic and cultural education, working across the African continent, who have come together to pursue a joint programme of research into arts educational practice in Africa that is critically informed and grounded in historical analysis. The group’s aim is to produce and to share knowledge about and through artistic and cultural education in Africa, and to make this knowledge available both across the continent and worldwide.

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‘But I wonder, why do we have to be so bothered about the challenges of being received abroad?’ – Q&A with curator Bisi Silva

Start: The 10th Photography Biennale: Bamako Encounter is celebrating photography as an artform. What are still some of those challenges photographers from the continent face to be accepted on the International scene?
Bisi: The 10th Bamako Encounters: African Biennale of Photography is the principal and longest running platform for the presentation of the work of African and African Diaspora photographers and artists to showcase their work to a continental and international audience.
But I wonder, why do we have to be so bothered about the challenges of being received abroad? What about the huge challenges of photographers being accepted across Africa? I think that is where we need to direct our attention.

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A conversation with comic artist Chris Mafigiri

Chris Mafigiri Mugarura is a professional comic artist living in Kampala. He has been a comic artist since his childhood but started Journalism at Uganda Christian University, Mukono. In 2013, he won the comic book competition organized by the Goethe Zentrum Kampala/ UGCS. This led to his publishing the book, Children of War that was recently launched at the Cultural offices in Kamwokya, Kampala.
Startjournal Editor, Dominic Muwanguzi, sat with him and asked him about his latest book and how Comics influence other art forms.

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Q&A with Curator Simon Njami

“Contemporary artists working on the African continent should concentrate on their soil. Dig it. Find its treasure and secrets and come up with something that will shake the world.”

Startjournal talks to Simon Njami, Independent Curator of contemporary art, Lecturer, Art Critic and Novelist about some contentious issues currently dominating discussion about contemporary African art.

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Xenson talking at Wazo, Kampala 2013.

Wazo 10: Xenson tells his story

On April 2nd 2013, the guest speaker for Wazo 10 was conceptual and visual artist, musician, filmmaker and poet, Ssenkaaba Samson, who goes by the name Xenson. In his introduction the moderator, David Kaiza, described Xenson as someone whose varied work in fashion, music, poetry and the visual arts has exponentially expanded what we call art and the art space in Uganda.

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Saint Nelly Sade. Photo by courtesy of the artist.

St. Nelly-sade: Luga-flo lyricist, emcee, poet and thinker

“When I listen to the latest album of St. Nelly-sade, I can’t stop but muse that, by and by, future hip-hop critiques, collectors, practitioners, etc will reflect upon his music as a one of a kind archetype, and use it to school and inspire the coming hip-hop generations in Uganda.” Lutakome ‘Felix’ Fidelis has met the Ugandan underground rapper.

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