Sunday, September 12 | 3:30 pm | DCF, Lalka
“Europe-Africa: import-export”. Meeting after the film “White Cube”
In Polish
This film by Renzo Martens is testimony to the fact that colonial violence imposed by one continent on another can go a long way, be it politically, economically or culturally. The director cum main character points at the exploitation of Africa by the western world – including the artistic world. He tries to reverse the rules by engaging a village community in Congo in an artistic project. Though driven by righteous intentions, he comes dangerously close to the archetype of “white saviour”, out of touch with local reality. We will have a word with cultural promoter Karolina Bieniek and journalist Magda Podsiadły, on the socio-cultural setting in Africa and on projects targeted at actual needs that give the local community a chance to speak out. During the meeting we will also have a presentation of “Bel -Air” – a catalogue of works by Wrocław-based artist Leon Podsiadły inspired by his stay in Western Africa. The catalogue was published by the ArtTransparent Foundation.
Guest:
Karolina Bieniek - PhD political sciences, cultural promoter, member of the board at Art Transparent Foundation. Coordinator of various artistic projects: be it local (SURVIVAL Art Review or “Stanisław Dróżdż: paths of text”) or international ones in African countries like: Guinea, Kenia, Tanzania, or Namibia. Author of publications in the field of international relations with particular emphasis on post-conflict reconstruction and foreign policy.
Magda Podsiadły - journalist and photographer-reporter. She grew up in Guinea, and still returns to West Africa today. Her interests include theatre and cinema of Francophonic Africa, and traditional ethnic culture (her PhD thesis was devoted to ritual African masks). Holds several photo exhibitions about African customs to her account.
Host:
Kuba Żary - culture journalist, curator, communication expert. Deputy to editor-in-chief of “Wrocławski Niezbędnik Kulturalny”, contributor at “Contemporary Lynx” magazine. Curator of various artistic projects aimed principally at the urban landscape.
Partner: Fundacja ArtTransparent
