Crossing Archives

Photographic archives in African countries lying south of the Sahara have for some years been a focus of attention not only in international academic discussions but also for the global art market. At the same time, cultural collective visual memory in the period between the colonial era and the “postcolonial age” is increasingly being dealt with in artistic and curatorial practice. As the archives find their way into these different realms, the existing systems for organising and categorising them are not only being examined but in many cases energised too. This has given rise to new archives that conform to their own political and aesthetic parameters.

In light of these processes and perspectives, Crossing Archives will hold three panel discussions to address the photographic archives of various geopolitical areas in African countries south of the Sahara. Aside from discussions tackling the larger picture, there will be a specific thematic focus on the situation in Nigeria. This will be addressed in its own panel and complemented by presentations drawn from archival and conservatorial practice in state institutions and private initiatives.

The conference is organised by the Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany, in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut, Lagos, and supported by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Lagos

This event is free.

Contact for further information and admission:
Goethe-Institut Nigeria
City Hall, Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel. +234 1 7746888
info@lagos.goethe.org
www.goethe.de/nigeria

Receptions by
Michael Derus, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Lagos
Marc-André Schmachtel, director, Goethe-Institut, Lagos
Hanna Sofia Hayduk, Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany

Introductory remarks by Kerstin Meincke, curator of VoyageRetour, Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany

Keynote by Okwui Enwezor, director, Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany

Panelists (confirmed)
Dayo C. Adekola, director, Photography Dpt., Nigerian Ministry of Information, Abuja
Mathieu Zana Aziza Etambala, historian, KU Leuven/ Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
Chika Okeke-Agulu, artist, art historian and curator, Princeton University, Princeton, US
Bisi Silva, Curator/ Director Centre for Contemporary Arts, Lagos
Santu Mofokeng, visual artist and collector, South Africa
Etim Eyo, Nigerian Nostalgia Project, Lagos
Storm Janse Van Rensburg, curator and researcher, Johannesburg, South Africa/ Berlin, Germany
Gillian Hopwood, photographer and collector, Lagos
John Godwin, architect and collector, Lagos, Nigeria

Moderation
Frank Ugiomoh, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Kerstin Meincke, Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany

Concept
Kerstin Meincke, Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany

Panel discussion: Photography, archives and international Relations

Panelists (confirmed)
Michael Derus, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Lagos
Hans Hielscher, picture editor, Deutsche Welle, Nigeria/ Der Spiegel, Hamburg, Germany
Marc-André Schmachtel, director, Goethe-Institut, Lagos

Concept
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Lagos and the Goethe-Institut, Lagos

Follow-up event: Drinks and snacks in the Voyage Retour exhibition space