The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) will debut its highly anticipated fall program, Black Ancient Futures, on September 18, 2024.
This groundbreaking exhibition brings together a diverse group of African artists and members of the African diaspora in Lisbon, Portugal, to offer a radical reimagining of the black artistic experience. By challenging conventional geographical and historical boundaries, the artists invite viewers to specifically envision a transcontinental narrative filled with utopian dreams of abundance and well-being.
Among the distinguished participants are Jota Mombaça, Jeannette Ehlers, Evan Ifekoya, Nolan Oswald Dennis, Sandra Mujinga, April Bey, Gabriel Massan, Tabita Rezaire, Kiluanji Kia Henda, Lungiswa Gqunta, and also Baloji. These artists, representing a global tapestry of cultural backgrounds from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, Brazil, Trinidad, as well as The Bahamas, will contribute to a multifaceted exploration of contemporary themes.
The exhibition promises a rich array of interdisciplinary works, featuring large-scale immersive and interactive installations. Notably, Lungiswa Gqunta’s Sleep in Witness (2024) delves into the realm of dreams as educational spaces. This site-specific installation invites black women to shape a clay surface with their movements, making their presence an integral part of the artwork.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Jeannette Ehlers will present We’re Magic. We’re Real #3 (These Walls) on September 17. This evocative performance uses hair as a symbol of identity within the African diaspora, featuring performers with long cornrows appearing to grow from the facade of MAAT. Through slow, deliberate movements and multilingual recitations, the performance will address themes of grief and resilience, thus symbolizing a yearning for life beyond historical constraints and celebrating the forest as a metaphorical sanctuary.
Black Ancient Futures will be on display from September 18, 2024, to March 17, 2025, across MAAT Gallery, MAAT Central, and also MAAT Garden.
