Louis Maqhubela
I’m pretty excited about this exhibition of new paintings by veteran South African artist Louis Maqhubela. He’s been exhibiting (and living) in London for donkey’s years, and recently had a touring retrospective exhibition in South Africa, A Vigil of Departure (1960 – 2010). You can read more about his work and life here.
Show: 14 Nov – 20 Dec
Opening hours: Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat 11-4
Art First
21 Eastcastle Street, London
W1W 8DD
Still from Peripeteia – John Akomfrah (2012)
Once again, apologies for being late off the mark with this one… there are still a couple of weeks to check out Hauntologies, filmmaker and artist John Akomfrah’s current show at Carroll/Fletcher, which is on until 8th November. Akomfrah has been exploring the presence, significance and experiences of the African diaspora in Europe since the mid-1980s, and was a founding member of the Black Audio Film Collective.
There are also a number of film screenings relating to the show.
Show: until 8th November
Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 11-7; Sat, 11-6
Carroll/Fletcher
56-57 Eastcastle Street, London
W1W 8EQ
FIlm Africa 2012
It’s that time of year again. The nights are drawing in, and the London Film Festival is coming up, which can only mean one thing: following hot on its heels in early November is Film Africa, London’s annual festival celebrating African cinema.
There’s a smattering of films from Africa at the LFF (take a peek at the country listings here) but for varied and ambitious programming, Film Africa is the place to look. Crammed into the 10 days of the festival are over 70 films, 35 Q&A sessions with filmmakers, 8 music nights, free workshops and more…
Check the website for dates, venues, ticket information etc, but here are some highlights:
Difficult Love (dir. Zanele Muholi and Peter Goldsmid, South Africa, 2010)
Difficult Love (dir. Zanele Muholi and Peter Goldsmid)
I was lucky enough to see this film a while back at the South London Gallery, and it’s great to see it getting two airings during the festival (here and here), especially in the light of the appalling recent theft of the bulk of Muholi’s archive. Good on Film Africa for sending a clear message that Muholi’s work, which explores the experiences of black lesbians in South Africa, is essential viewing.
Lust (El Shooq) (dir. Khaled El Hagar, Egypt/France, 2011)
Lust (El Shooq) (dir. Khaled El Hagar)
This is the London premiere of this film by provocative multi-award-winning Egyptian filmmaker Khaled El Hagar. It won the Golden Pyramid Award for Best Film at Cairo’s International Film Festival in 2010. Followed by a Q&A with El Hagar (TBC).
Material (dir. Craig Freimond, South Africa, 2012)
Material (dir. Craig Freimond)
This South African comedy stars Riaad Moosa as a wannabe comedian struggling with the expectations of his family. It’s also showing at the London Film Festival. There’s a review here and more info and a trailer here.
Basia Lewandowska Cummings (from Africa Is A Country) discussed the fascinating projects of alternative filmmaking collectives across the Arab world at Africa Utopia earlier this year; here’s a rare opportunity to see more of their work on the big screen.
Continental Living
I’m not quite sure what this is, if I’m honest, but it involves a whole load of artists currently represented by Jack Bell Gallery, so it could be worth investigating…
The info available suggests that work by artists including Paa Joe, Aboudia, Gonçalo Mabunda and Bandoma will be on show as part of something called ‘Continental Living’, which is part of something called ‘New Re-visions’ at NEO Bankside, a new development just near Tate Modern.
To check it out, email visit@houseofthenobleman.com and find out more, as it’s by appointment only. If you end up on a tour of a shiny new apartment overlooking the Southbank, well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Show: 10th Oct – 10th Nov
NEO Bankside, Pavillion C
50 Holland Street, London
SE1 9FU
African Art in London 