"When We See Us": Everyday Blackness with Okra Collective
Thursday, September 5, 6–9 p.m., Gegenwart, Costs: CHF 10/5, in English
Film screening and talk with the Okra Collective, including pop-up bar
The audiovisual production Everyday Blackness by Okra, a collective of Black multidisciplinary artists, is a mesmerizing combination of sounds, voices and polyrhythmic music. Inspired by the exhibition When We See Us, the video work was developed especially for the opening Saturday of the exhibition in Basel, and will be presented again on the extended Thursday evening at Kunstmuseum Basel | Gegenwart.
Based on a joint residency with Anti-Mass, a collective and label from Kampala/Uganda, Everyday Blackness is an attempt to bring conversations, sounds and images of everyday life of specifically black subjectivity into a form. Katie Omole and Glenn Akwasi, members of the collective, emphasize that the collaborative process was about consciously evading permanent attention and surveillance in public space: the new production is “coming from the point that we never have rest” and from the desire to "just exist". The images created for Everyday Blackness tell of collective experiences and Black subjectivity from an Afro-diasporic perspective, without being oriented towards fixed terms or conditions.
On September 5, Okra members Katie Omole, Anouchka Gwen, FONCÉ, Glenn Akwasi and Abdulmalik Abdi will host a collaborative evening where visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the artistic process and narratives of Everyday Blackness through conversation and insight. Including a screening of Everyday Blackness.
The exhibition When We See Us is open and freely accessible during the extended Thursday evenings at Kunstmuseum Basel | Gegenwart from 6 to 9 pm.
On the first Thursday evening of every month, Studio Gegenwart will host a screening of the exhibition When We See Us. One Hundred Years of Pan-African Figurative Painting, special musical, performative, discursive and participatory programs take place in the Studio Gegenwart. With local and international guests.
June
STUDIO GEGENWART
15:00–17:00
A Light Lyricism. Reading Group and Literary Companion to "When We See Us"
With Sindi-Leigh McBride (researcher and writer) and guests
In six public reading group sessions, we work through a selection of texts by James Baldwin, Ken Bugul, Teju Cole, Akwaeke Emezi, Bernardine Evaristo, Andrea Lee, Maaza Men, Kwame McPherson, Johny Pitts, Koleka Putuma, Zadie Smith, and Brandon Taylor. All texts will be made available to participants in advance. Age: from 16 years. Admission is free, registration is required via ticket link.
FÜHRUNG
GEGENWART
15:00–16:00
Führung in der Ausstellung «When We See Us. Hundert Jahre panafrikanische figurative Malerei»
In German. Kosten: Eintritt + CHF 5.
FÜHRUNG
GEGENWART
16:00–17:00
Guided tour of the exhibition "When We See Us. A Century of Black Figuration in Painting"
Costs: Admission + CHF 5.
CONCERT
STUDIO GEGENWART
18:00–19:00
When We Hear Us with Neo Muyanga
Musical explorations around “When We See Us”
In a live concert, the South African musician and composer Neo Muyanga and the ensemble of the FHNW Jazz Institute will present cross-genre sounds that translate the themes of the exhibition “When We See Us” into the sonic sphere. Costs: CHF 20/15. Tickets via ticket link.
STUDIO GEGENWART
15:00–17:00
A Light Lyricism. Reading Group and Literary Companion to "When We See Us"
With Sindi-Leigh McBride (researcher and writer) and guests
In six public reading group sessions, we work through a selection of texts by James Baldwin, Ken Bugul, Teju Cole, Akwaeke Emezi, Bernardine Evaristo, Andrea Lee, Maaza Men, Kwame McPherson, Johny Pitts, Koleka Putuma, Zadie Smith, and Brandon Taylor. All texts will be made available to participants in advance. Age: from 16 years. Admission is free, registration is required via ticket link.
FÜHRUNG
GEGENWART
15:00–16:00
Führung in der Ausstellung «When We See Us. Hundert Jahre panafrikanische figurative Malerei»
In German. Kosten: Eintritt + CHF 5.
NEUBAU Eventfoyer
19:00–20:00
Nakhane, «Endo-» – Performance
The well-known South African singer, songwriter, performer and writer is coming to Basel with the musical performance "Endo-", which was commissioned by the Kunstmuseum Basel especially for the exhibition "When We See Us. One Hundred Years of Pan-African Figurative Painting". Nakhane's work was praised by Elton John, who interviewed Nakhane, and also by Madonna, who called the multitalent one of her two favorite artists and said Nakhane's music influenced Nakhane. Costs: CHF 25/15.
GEGENWART
11:30–12:15
When We Hear Us mit Neo Muyanga
Musical Explorations around "When We See Us"
During Art Basel, the Neo Muyanga Ensemble will host solos, duos and small ensemble formation sessions inspired by the "When We See Us" playlists and workshops; deconstructing “African Music” and exploring the complex echoes between music and the visual arts, the boundary-crossing aesthetic contained in the sonic palette of the diaspora. A Cooperation with Institute Jazz | FHNW, Basel. Costs: Entry.
STUDIO GEGENWART
16:00–17:00
When We Hear Us mit Neo Muyanga
Musikalische Erkundungen rund um «When We See Us»
Präsentation neuer Sounds und musikalischer Experimente, die auf der vom südafrikanischen Musiker und Komponisten Neo Muyanga konzipierten «When We See Us» Playlist der Ausstellung und den in Basel durchgeführten Workshops basieren. Eine Zusammenarbeit mit dem Institut Jazz | FHNW, Basel. Teilnahme kostenlos, Ticket erforderlich via Ticketlink.
MESSE BASEL, HALL 1
19:00–20:00
Art Basel | Conversations: When We See Us
Messe Basel, Hall 1
"When We See Us" curator Koyo Kouoh will discuss the themes in the exhibition, currently on show at Kunstmuseum Basel, with artists Kudzanai-Violet Hwami and Tschabalala Self. Presented in collaboration with Art Basel.
GEGENWART
11:30–12:15
When We Hear Us mit Neo Muyanga
Musikalische Erkundungen rund um «When We See Us»
Präsentation neuer Sounds und musikalischer Experimente, die auf der vom südafrikanischen Musiker und Komponisten Neo Muyanga konzipierten «When We See Us» Playlist der Ausstellung und den in Basel durchgeführten Workshops basieren. Eine Zusammenarbeit mit dem Institut Jazz | FHNW, Basel. Kosten: Eintritt.
STUDIO GEGENWART
16:00–17:00
When We Hear Us mit Neo Muyanga
Musikalische Erkundungen rund um «When We See Us»
Präsentation neuer Sounds und musikalischer Experimente, die auf der vom südafrikanischen Musiker und Komponisten Neo Muyanga konzipierten «When We See Us» Playlist der Ausstellung und den in Basel durchgeführten Workshops basieren. Eine Zusammenarbeit mit dem Institut Jazz | FHNW, Basel. Teilnahme kostenlos, Ticket erforderlich via Ticketlink.
FÜHRUNG
GEGENWART
15:00–16:00
Führung in der Ausstellung «When We See Us. Hundert Jahre panafrikanische figurative Malerei»
In German. Kosten: Eintritt + CHF 5.
STUDIO GEGENWART
15:00–17:00
A Light Lyricism. Reading Group and Literary Companion to "When We See Us"
With Sindi-Leigh McBride (researcher and writer) and guests
In six public reading group sessions, we work through a selection of texts by James Baldwin, Ken Bugul, Teju Cole, Akwaeke Emezi, Bernardine Evaristo, Andrea Lee, Maaza Men, Kwame McPherson, Johny Pitts, Koleka Putuma, Zadie Smith, and Brandon Taylor. All texts will be made available to participants in advance. Age: from 16 years. Admission is free, registration is required via ticket link.
FÜHRUNG
GEGENWART
15:00–16:00
Führung in der Ausstellung «When We See Us. Hundert Jahre panafrikanische figurative Malerei»
In German. Kosten: Eintritt + CHF 5.
FÜHRUNG
GEGENWART
15:00–16:00
Visite guidée de l'exposition « When We See Us. Un siècle de peinture figurative panafricaine ».
In French. Coût : entrée + CHF 5.
CONVERSATION
NEUBAU
19:30–21:00
Fragen der Zeit: Teju Cole
Gespräch zum neusten Buch des amerikanisch-nigerianischen Autors Teju Cole, das jetzt auf Deutsch erscheint. Cole taucht in «Tremor» tief in die Kolonialgeschichte der USA ein und untersucht mit literarischen Mitteln, wie diese bis heute ihre Spuren hinterlässt.
STUDIO GEGENWART
15:00–17:00
A Light Lyricism. Reading Group and Literary Companion to "When We See Us"
With Sindi-Leigh McBride (researcher and writer) and guests
In six public reading group sessions, we work through a selection of texts by James Baldwin, Ken Bugul, Teju Cole, Akwaeke Emezi, Bernardine Evaristo, Andrea Lee, Maaza Men, Kwame McPherson, Johny Pitts, Koleka Putuma, Zadie Smith, and Brandon Taylor. All texts will be made available to participants in advance. Age: from 16 years. Admission is free, registration is required via ticket link.
WORKSHOP
GEGENWART
15:00–16:30
Dialogue Session
Storytelling Through Design. With Cherry-Ann Morgan
Hosted by Visual Designer and Artist Cherry Ann Morgan, this session is a practical workshop on storytelling and pluralistic futures within visual design. Costs: Entry + 5 CHF
WORKSHOP
STUDIO GEGENWART
11:00–17:00
Offenes Studio Gegenwart
Life by the river Together we will think about everyday life on the Rhine: the people, animals, plants, stones and everything else we encounter. What stories do the river and its banks tell us? What is the relationship between nature and culture around the Rhine? We will give form to our findings, reflections and impressions through paintings, drawings and frottages - outdoors if the weather is fine. Open to all. Participation free of charge.
