Still Fighting Ignorance and Intellectual Perfidy: Video Art from Africa

Two exhibitions presenting idiosyncratic readings of African video art and community photography by local photographers.

Still fighting ignorance and intellectual perfidy - Video art from Africa
Curated by Kisito Assangni

Including artists:

Said Afifi | Nirveda Alleck | Jude Anogwih | Younes Baba-Ali | Rehema Chachage | Saidou Dicko | Ndoye Douts | Kokou Ekouagou | Mohamed El Baz | Samba Fall | Dimitri Fagbohoun | Wanja Kimani | Nicene Kossentini | Kai Lossgott | Michele Magema | Nathalie Mba Bikoro | Victor Mutelekesha | Johan Thom | Saliou Traoré | Guy Woueté | Ezra Wube

Project [SFIP] is a multi-national exhibition process and a platform for critical thinking, researching and presenting African video art.

The technocultural revolution has democratised cultural and artistic practice through everyday access to new media. At the same time, the pervasive presence of technology in our lives has raised questions around privacy, surveillance and ownership, the dominance of Western media in globalisation, as well as the privilege of access in the developed world. The [SFIP] network is dedicated to the diffusion of new experiences worldwide through film and video. It is unfortunate that contemporary African art remains largely associated with sculpture and painting. Much work remains to be done in adequately researching the creative energy of the continent, especially within the last decade.

This exhibition presents a selection of African video art that stands beyond the clichés that remain associated with the dark continent and the postcolonial image. It seeks to bring viewers closer to idiosyncratic readings of African video art and its thematic concerns which are largely ignored. ‘Still Fighting Ignorance & Intellectual Perfidy’ contextualises African video art within a larger cultural framework.

Reflecting an age of inter-cultural migration, [SFIP] presents African video artists who live in Africa, Europe and USA whilst providing a meeting point for knowledge and interest in the relationship between self and society. Most works address issues of alterity, identity, tolerance and social relationships as artists reflexively consider their sense of place and belonging in an increasingly interconnected world.

From experimental video to short film, this show focuses on aesthetic and methodological perspectives of fighting ignorance and intellectual perfidy in contemporary African art. The project tells Africa’s story by African new media artists as seen through the lens of the relation between tradition and modernity.

About the curator

Kisito Assangni is a Togolese-French curator and producer who studied photography, art history and museology. Currently living between London, Paris and Lomé, his practice primarily focuses on psychogeography and post-globalisation impact on contemporary frican cultures.

His projects have been shown internationally, including the Whitechapel Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London; Arnot Art Museum, New York; Torrance Art Museum, California; Musée des Arts Derniers, Paris; Malmo Konsthall, Malmo, Sweden; Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; National Centre for Contemporary Arts, Moscow; Pori Art Museum, Pori, Finland; Motorenhalle Centre for Contemporary Art, Dresden, Germany; Foundation 3.14, Bergen, Norway; National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul among others.

Kisito has participated in symposia, talks and events at numerous international venues.

He was also member of jury for the Award LETTERS FROM THE SKY in Cape Town (South Africa) as well as the 28th Prix VIDEOFORMES in Clermont-Ferrand (France).

Kisito is the founder/curator of Time is Love Screening – International video art program and [SFIP] project.

The "Shell Amateurs’' Present Community Photography
A photographic exhibition exploring themes such as Work and Play, Inside and Outside and Family, by local artists.

Supported by City Printing


Associated events:


Thursday 13th March: Exhibition Private View
Join us from 6.30pm for the opening of the new exhibition.

Monday 17th March: Talking Art
This discussion event will explore the current exhibition of African video art by 21 African artists.
Speakers include: David Glasser, Ben Uri Chair; Kisito Assangi, Exhibition Curator; Yvette Greslé, Arts Writer and PhD candidate, History of Art, University College London and Marie Rodet, Lecturer in African History, Convenor Film and History, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
To book your place, please call Laura Jones on 020 7604 3991

Tuesdays 18th and 25th March: Life Drawing Classes
Life drawing classes for all levels, within the exhibition space.