Upcoming Event - Contemporary African Photography- Monday Nove 21

For Immediate Release

Always Moving Forward
Contemporary African Photography from the Wedge Collection
Mohamed Bourouissa, Mohamed Camara, Calvin Dondo, Samuel Fosso, Hassan Hajjaj, Bouchra Khalili, Antony Kaminju Kimani, Lebohang Mashiloane, Aȉda Muluneh, Dawit L. Petros, Zwelethu Mthethwa, Guy Tillim, Andrew Tshabangu, Nontsikelelo 'Lolo" Veleko
Curated by Kenneth Montague 

Dawit L. Petros, Proposition 1: Mountain, 66 x 86.4cm, digital print, 2007.

                                                                                  
Exhibitions    03 November - 10 December 2011

Opening Reception + Curatorial Tour    Thursday 03 November, 7PM
Artist Talk with Dawit L. Petros @ The University of Manitoba School of Art     Monday 21 November, 12PM

Film Night with Alliance Française @ PLATFORM     Thursday 08 December, 7PM


Always Moving Forward features photo-based work by a diverse range of young African-born artists in Toronto's Wedge Collection. Curated by Ken Montague, this exhibition highlights a generation of global artists exploring different dimensions of the African imaginary and African spaces. Living and working across Africa, North America and Europe, their work points to the reality of African diasporic identities as being fluid, constantly in flux.

These are artists who have turned to lens-based practices to open up a kind of critical "third space" countering the history of Western media as a purveyor of "Afro-pessimism." Their internationally acclaimed work also reflects the current shift away from the commercial studio portraiture that predominated in Africa in previous decades, to reveal an emphasis on conceptual art, documentary, fashion and street photography. The exhibition provides a glimpse at how emerging technologies, transitioning landscapes, rampant globalization and forces of capitalism including the influence of advertising and new media is rapidly changing the continent and people. - Pamela Edmonds. 

Kenneth Montague is an art collector and curator based in Toronto, Canada. Founder and director of Wedge Curatorial Projects, he began collecting and exhibiting photo-based work that explored black identity and the African diaspora over ten years ago. The Wedge Collection has grown to encompass both historical and contemporary photography, as well as non-photo based works that challenge notions of representation and identity.

PLATFORM acknowledges the support of its membership, Board of Directors, staff, and partners in presentation. Operating and project assistance for PLATFORM programming is provided by: Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, The Winnipeg Foundation, and The W.H. & S.E. Loewen Foundation. Platform would also like to acknowledge Alliance Française du Manitoba, Wedge Curatorial Projects and the University of Manitoba. For more information about this exhibition or other PLATFORM programming, please contact the Centre directly: PLATFORM | 121-100 Arthur Street [Artspace Building] | Winnipeg, Manitoba | R3B 1H3 | 204.942.8183 | www.platformgallery.org

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