'Kings County': a influência de Brooklyn em cinco criadores africanos

Imagem: Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Self-portrait, June 3, 2011 / Stevenson Gallery

Njideka Akunyili Crosby (Nigéria), Meleko Mokgosi (botswana), Wangechi Mutu (Quénia), Teju Cole (EUA-Nigéria), Paul Mpagi Sepuya  (Estados Unidos-Uganda) têm em comum ter vivido em Brooklyn, na cidade de Nova Iorque. São os criadores que integram a exposição da Stevenson Gallery, na Cidade do Cabo, "Kings County" - um termo administrativo e arcaico que designa o bairro novaiorquino, com uma população multicultural. O New York Times escreveu sobre a exposição: 

“The artists in this exhibition are all, in different ways, invested in this imaginary place called Brooklyn, and use the idea of the borough as a backdrop to the making of their art,” said Mr. Bosland. The show spans installation, video, work on canvas and work on paper by the artists, who have all lived in Brooklyn (called Kings County by Dutch settlers in the 17th century). “We have two works by Mr. Meleko, one video by Ms. Mutu, four works on paper by Ms. Akunyili Crosby and a room installation containing 20 photographs by Mr. Sepuya,” Mr. Bosland said.

For these artists, Brooklyn is a rich source of inspiration, from its new creative economy, to its immigrant history and recent gentrification. “Each person had their own unique relationship with the place,” said Mr. Bosland.

O artigo completo, aqui