Edition 1 of the journal SAVVY | art.contemporary.african: (Re-) Mapping the field: a bird’s eye view on discourses
You have been waiting on tenterhooks for the second edition of the journal SAVVY | art.contemporary.african.? This waiting was worth the trouble… we hereby present to you edition 1 of this journal, entitled (Re-) Mapping the field: a bird’s eye view on discourses:
www.savvy-journal.com
The challenge of any journal aiming at hoisting the flag of art critic and thus putting critical writing on art as its fundament is to pin point the eye of the storm in the cyclone of positions and criticism within the realms of its conceptual background. To participate in the discourse means not only to add fuel to it but also see how far one can go. A discourse is the only context where ideals, ideas or concepts can be taken towards the end.
In this light, the editors of the journal SAVVY | art.contemporary.african. sailed out on a journey to map the field by capturing an overview on some ongoing discourses in the academia and non-academic circles by renegotiating and reflecting on terminologies, spaces, concepts and contexts at stake in the field of contemporary African art.
On this “Mapping the field” expedition Simon Njami recounts on the incentive and onset of Revue Noire in Ancient guilt, new tool, Sylvester Okwunodu Ogbechie reshuffles the cards in Where is Africa in Global Contemporary Art? while Riason Naidoo reflects on his historical milestone 1910-2010: From Pierneef to Gugulective,inter alia. The trip also accompanies us through features on Otobong Nkanga and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, negotiates turns on interviews with the likes of Odili Donald Odita in Chromatic Symphonyand re-imagines with Ntone Edjabe,publisher of the literary journal of arts, culture and politics, Chimurenga magazine. The journey takes a retrospective glimpse at exhibitions with African artists on board like Make Yourself at Homein theKunsthal Charlottenborg, The Idea of Africa (re-invented)in theKunsthalle Bern, AFROPOLIS inRautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Cologne, as well as the Addis Foto Fest 2010and an almost nostalgic take on Okwui Enwezor's The Short Century.
You are welcome to do a free subscription of the journal here: savvy-journal.com/subscribe.php
We will keep you informed about the schedule of the next edition.
Have fun reading and we are looking forward to a thrilling feedback!
Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung | Editor-in-chief
Andrea Heister | Deputy Editor-in-chief
Contributors of edition 1
Simon Njami, Sylvester Okwonodu Ogbechie, Annette Schemmel, Fiona Siegenthaler, Kangsen Feka Wakai, Aicha Diallo, Brenda Cooper, Andrea Heister, Prune Helfter, Nancy Hoffmann, Missla Libsekal, Alanna Lockward, Riason Naidoo, Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Katja Vobiller, Claudia Lamas Cornejo, Johanna Ndikung, Simone Kraft.
Web design
Alice Motanga
Graphic design
Soavina Ramaroson