Exploring Art as a Space for Transformation and Solidarity Across Brazil, Switzerland, and the Congo
‘Quilombo, fabric of consciousness’ is a project that explores the dynamics of cultural and societal awakening through the work of artists from Brazil, Switzerland and the Congo. Inspired by the historical concept of quilombos – autonomous communities founded by escaped slaves in Brazil, which have become symbols of the struggle for freedom and emancipation – the exhibition explores how contemporary art can become a space for reflection and transformation, redefining the contours of freedom and collective consciousness. It highlights the intersections between these three geographically distant regions, united by stories of colonisation, migration and the quest for self-determination.
The quilombo is used here as a metaphor for spaces of conscientisation (in the sense of Paulo Freire), places where alternatives to dominant systems are thought out and experimented with. The project brings together artists, cultural and social players working in conjunction with independent art centres: the Centre d’art Waza in Lubumbashi, SALTS in Basel, Switzerland, and Pivò in Salvador de Bahia. These organisations, positioned on the bangs of mainstream circuits, embody a desire to free artistic practice from the constraints imposed by the global dynamics of the art market. They function as laboratories of ideas and creation, where local and marginal narratives can be explored, questioned and projected into the public space. These artistic enclaves, like the quilombos, nurture a collective consciousness that demands recognition of marginalised histories and the ability to reinvent the world.
A central aspect of the exhibition is the use of textiles, both traditional and contemporary, by many of the artists on show. These fabrics – whether of African or South American origin, or inspired by local know-how – become media through which the artists explore their inner and collective geography. The fabrics, with their textures, patterns and colours, carry narratives of memory and awareness, while inviting the viewer to become involved in a space-quilombo: a place where critical reflection is constructed and other possibilities are imagined. Working with these materials, the artists question the legacies of colonialism, power relations and globalised narratives, transforming these textiles into imaginary maps linking continents, eras and human experiences.
Artists:
Pedro Wirz (Brazil/Switzerland) x Antony Mutshipule (RDC) , Anderson A.C. (Brazil), Third Space: Joao Roxo (Mozambique) and Russel Hlongwane (South Africa), biarritzzz (Brazil), Sarah Ndele (DRC), Grace Kalima (DRC), Future-velours: Bren Heymans (Belgium), Patient Kwete and more (DRC), Antony Mutshipule (DRC), Stephane Kabila and Joseph Kasau (DRC)
The Kiratas :
Patrick Mudekereza (DRC), Prodige Tumba Makonga (DRC), Benedikt Wyss (Switzerland), Juliana Sampaio (Brazil), Carolina de Sà (Brazil)
Production: Aisha Dramé Zongwe (DRC)
With the support of Pro Helvetia Johannesburg, Swiss Agency for Cultural Cooperation
In collaboration with Salts (Basel, Switzerland) and Pivò (Salvador de Bahia, Brazil).
Through the diversity of its media, the exhibition invites us to re-read contemporary issues, be they ecological, economic, racial or identity-related. It invites us to consider art not only as a space for critical dialogue, but also as a factory of consciousness, a place where new forms of solidarity, reflection and freedom emerge. Like the quilombos of yesteryear, the works and practices presented here trace paths towards fairer, more inclusive worlds, offering alternatives to dominant narratives.
‘Quilombo, fabrique de conscience’ is both a tribute to past struggles and a platform for collectively imagining futures yet to be invented. In this space, art becomes a tool for social transformation and a mirror of our ability to become aware of injustices, and together build symbolic bridges between cultures, histories and worldviews.
Conference/conversations : Friday, November 29, 2024 from 2 to 6 pm
The exhibition is on view from the 28th of November until the 6th of December, 2024. For more information, please visit Centre d’art Waza.
