Angola, figures of power in Paris
On at The Dapper Museum in Paris until the 10th of July is the brilliant exhibition “Angola, Figuras del Poder,” a show made up of 140 artistic objects from villages in Central Africa. Items of exquisite beauty such including masks and statues introduce us a complex cultural history of power.
The Dapper Museum has promoted the knowledge of African arts since its opening in 1986, putting on dozens of interesting cultural exhibitions. It has become a space where we can appreciate, and admire the different cultural aspects of the African diaspora in Europe, opening a platform for the recognition of a rich artistic history.
Angola was a Portuguese colony from 1482 until 1975, when dictator Marcelo Caetano was overruled by the MPLA (Movement for the Liberation of Angola), and UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola.) After the defeat of Caetano, the process of decolonialisation begun, led by Agostinho Neto – which was interrupted by the 25 year long Civil War.
The cultural riches of the country can be described in 9 ethno-linguistic groups – Quicongos, Quimbundu, Lunda-Quioco, Mbundo, Ganguela, Nhanheca-Humbe, Ambó, Herero and Xinndonga, which divide into various different tribes. The culture of the Lunda-Quico is interesting, as well as the Ganguelas who developed ceramics, sculptures and a series of masks used in the rite of male sexual initiation, and other social activities.
In the first exhibition in France dedicated to Angolan arts, one is able to visualise the ritualisation of power and sexuality through the range of religious and symbolic objects; such as the cult effigy of hero Chibinda Ilunga contributed by great Angolan artist Antonio Ole.
Antonio Ole was born in Luanda in 1951. The painter, photographer and filmmaker was highly acclaimed for his first show at the Museum of Afro-american Art in Los Angeles in 1984. His artistic work in photography has always been strongly relate to Angola’s political history, in which the pain of death and poverty are extremely key themes. His conceptual piece Paredes, consists of a series of photographs of the fronts of houses destroyed in the war in Angola, expressing the futility and hopelessness of an ongoing war.
For more information http://www.dapper.com.fr/exposition-en-cours.php
Nancy Guzman
For those who don’t know about the rich Angolan cultural heritage, this exhibition is an opportunity not to be missed if you are in Paris. And since there is nothing better than exploring a new city, rent apartments in Paris and get some rest afterwards.
Translated by: Poppy
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