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Schwarz ist der Ozean – Zur Geschichte und Gegenwart von (Zwangs-)Migration und Flucht

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Credits

Name: Schwarz ist der Ozean – Zur Geschichte und Gegenwart von (Zwangs-)Migration und Flucht

Guest: Wilson, William Adjété; Yimer, Dagmawi; Kidane, Samson; Palasie, Serge

Abstract

“How are boats full of refugees off Europe’s shores linked to the history of colonialism and the slave trade?” Serge

Palasie’s exhibition Schwarz ist der Ozean (Black is the ocean) curated by the North Rhine-Westphalia Migration & Development Office is attempting to provide answers to this question. The relationship between Europe and Africa is succinctly summarised across eight scrolls: from the first contacts by Portuguese sailors on the West African coast, via the triangular trade displacing millions of Africans to work as slaves in the American sugar and cotton industries to the complete carving up of the African continent in the 19th century and today’s causes for flight and exile. The exhibition was inspired by the French-Togolese artist William Adjété Wilson who captured the historical stages in vibrant fabric paintings. They are depicted on the exhibition’s poster boards, and for the official opening he’ll bring along examples of his large format works evoking the recent refugee tragedies off the island of Lampedusa.