While museums and galleries are temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 virus, On View will continue to showcase images from noteworthy exhibitions
SINCE 2005, the Astrup Fearnley Museum has been staging expansive exhibitions exploring national and continental art scenes around the world. After showcasing the United States, Brazil, India, China and Europe, the final installment in the series focuses on Africa. Spanning three generations, 17 artists from seven sub-saharan countries are represented in “Alpha Crucis: Contemporary African Art.” South African artists Kay Hassan, Lebohang Kganye, and Nicholas Hlobo; Omar Victor Diop of Senegal; Romuald Hazoumè of Benin; Chéri Samba from Congo; and Billie Zangewa, who was born in Malawi and lives and works in South Africa, are among the artists featured. Wondering about the title of the exhibition? Here’s how the museum explains it: “Alpha Crucis is the brightest star in the constellation of the Southern Cross, located in the Milky Way. It is one of the most visible in the night sky and indicates the direction of the South. As such, it is often used by navigators, but the star is only visible from the southern hemisphere. For that reason, it was not mentioned in European antique astronomy. The title ‘Alpha Crucis’ makes a statement advocating a reorientation of the polarised art world towards the south, in order to fight the ignorance that has endured too long and to shed new light on contemporary African art.”
“Alpha Crucis: Contemporary African Art” is on view at Astrup Fearnley Museet in Oslo, Norway, Jan 30-May 16, 2020. Please Note: The museum is currently closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 virus.
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Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, From left, works by CHÉRI SAMBA (2) and JOHN GOBA. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, LEBOHANG KGANYE, “Mohlokomendi wa Tora,” 2017. | Courtesy AFRONOVA GALLERY
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, Works by HOUSTON MALUDI (3). | Courtesy the artist and MAGNIN-A gallery, Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, At right, Sculptures by SEYNI AWA CAMARA (5). | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
NICHOLAS HLOBO, “Nalo ikhwezi alinyulu,” 2015. | © Nicholas Hlobo courtesy of Stevenson, Cape Town Johannesburg
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, At left, Sculptures by SEYNI AWA CAMARA (5). | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, From left, CHÉRI SAMBA, “Bouquets de fleurs au 3ème âge,” 2016. Courtesy the artist, MAGNIN-A gallery, Collection Farida et Henry Seydoux; two works by JP MIKA. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, KAY HASSAN, “My Father’s music room,” 2007-2019. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Detail of KAY HASSAN, “My Father’s music room,” 2007-2019. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, Works by SENZENI MARASELA (4). | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, At right, Works by SENZENI MARASELA, including “Waiting for Gebane,” 2015-16. © Fred Scott, Senzeni Marasela – Courtesy AFRONOVA GALLERY. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
OMAR VICTOR DIOP, “La Sonacotra 1974,” From Liberty Series, 2017. | © Omar Victor Diop, Courtesy of the artist and MAGNIN-A gallery
Installation view of photographs by OMAR VICTOR DIOP. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, Photographs by OMAR VICTOR DIOP, including at far left, “Trayvon Martin” (2012). | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Works by JOHN GOBA, including “Joe Arm Strong,” 1997. | © John Goba, Maurice Aeschimann, Courtesy the artist and CAAC – The Pigozzi. Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, Works by CHÉRI SAMBA (4). | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, At right, ROMUALD HAZOUMÉ, “Elf rien à foutre,” 2005. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, At right RIGOBERT NIMI, “Galaxie, la ville du futur,” 2015-17 and ROMUALD HAZOUMÉ, “Elf rien à foutre,” 2005. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, Works by AMADOU SANOGO. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
AMADOU SANOGO, “La douche,” 2018. | © Amadou Sanogo, Courtesy of the artist and Astrup Fearnley Collection
Installation view of RIGOBERT NIMI “Galaxie, la ville du futur,” 2015 – 2017. | © AyméKatendi, Courtesy the artist and Collection Leridon. Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, From left, Works by ABU BAKKAR MANSARAY, RIGOBERT NIMI and CHÉRI SAMBA. | Courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of works by ABU BAKKAR MANSARAY (3). | Courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
ABU BAKKAR MANSARAY, “Digital Man,” 2004 | © Maurice Aeschimann
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, At left, WURA-NATASHA OGUNJI, “Atlantic,” 2017. Courtesy of the artist. | Photo Astrup Fearnley Museum
CHÉRI SAMBA, “Je suis les poumons et le coeur du monde,” 2019. | © Kleinefenn
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, Works by LEBOHANG KGANYE. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, Works by LEBOHANG KGANYE. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, Selection of four works by BILLIE ZANGEWA. | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). Shown, At left, BILLIE ZANGEWA, “Great Expectations” (2017). | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
BILLIE ZANGEWA, “The rebirth of the black Venus,” 2010 (embroidered silk). | © Billie Zangewa, Courtesy the artist and blank projects
FABRICE MONTEIRO, “Prophecy #8, 2013. | © Fabrice Monteiro, Courtesy the artist and MAGNIN-A gallery
Installation view of “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo, Norway (Jan 30-May 16, 2020). | Photo courtesy Astrup Fearnley Museum
TOP IMAGE: OMAR VICTOR DIOP, “Selma, 1965,” From Liberty Series, 2016. | © Omar Victor Diop, Courtesy of the artist and MAGNIN-A gallery
Disclosure: “Alpha Crucis” was organized by guest curator and art dealer Andre Magnin, the founder of MAGNIN-A in Paris. The gallery primarily promotes contemporary African art and represents a number of the artists featured in the exhibition.
BOOKSHELF
A catalog was published to document “Alpha Crucis – Contemporary African Art,” featuring a variety of covers illustrating art from the exhibition. “J’aime Cheri Samba” features contributions by Andre Magnin and Robert Storr. “Omar Victor Diop, photographe” is published in French. Also consider “Contemporary African Art Since 1980,” which is co-edited by Okwui Enwezor and Chika Okeke-Agulu.
