17 NOV — 21 NOV
HUMBOLDT FORUM
Afrikamera 2021: Urban Africa, Urban Movies – Africa in VR
During the opening hours of the house: Admission free
In collaboration with the South African non-profit incubator Electric South, Afrikamera 2021: Urban Africa, Urban Movies will present a total of five VR productions that deal with life in the metropolises of Nairobi, Accra, Lagos, Dakar and Johannesburg in very different artistic ways. At the intersection of film, visual art, fashion and gaming, expanded forms of cinematographic experience are thus made possible.
Lagos at Large
Jumoke Sanwo / Nigeria, South Africa 2019 / 11 min
Where does the real Lagos begin and where does it end? Lagos from 5.20 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Guided by the words of spoken word artist Njideka Iroh, director Jumoke Sanwo’s camera moves through various urban spaces of the mega-metropolis on foot, by bus, by car, past marketplaces, public monuments, places of leisure. In this way, a narrative unfolds that addresses issues of class division, international development, economic policy, and the differences between those who have returned from the diaspora and those who have never left Lagos – a foray through the imaginary as well as the material space of Lagos in which autobiographical and critical engagement intermingle.
Nairobi Berries
Ng’endo Mukii / Kenya 2018 / 7:51 min
“Nairobi, | love you most”. With her VR work “Nairobi Berries”, director and photographer Ng’endo Mukii from Kenya presents a poetic exploration of her hometown Nairobi in expressive, surreal images between real film and animation – carried by her voice, poetry meets VR art in this production.
The other Dakar
Selly Raby Kane / Senegal 2017 / 7:35 min
D Senegalese fashion designer Selly Raby Kane presents a fascinating 360° work in which a little girl is chosen to discover the invisible Dakar. Senegalese mythology meets fashion designs that have already inspired artists* such as Beyoncé, Nai Palm (Hiatus Kaiyote) and DaaraJ.
Spirit Robot
Jonathan Dotse / Ghana 2017 / 8:34 min
The VR work of the science fiction author and founder of the website Afrocyberpunk Jonathan Dotse from Ghana gives insight into the Chale Wote Street Art Festival with images and quotes from participating artists*, which has been taking place in the Ghanaian capital Accra since 2011 and aims to give the local urban art scene visibility in public space. The festival defines itself as a space for collaboration and social development.
Here
Shelley Berry / South Africa 2019 / 10:13 min
In front of the Johannesburg-Hillbrow skyline, various artists* with disabilities perform their vision of inclusion and empowerment in post-apartheid South Africa.
The VR production by multi-award-winning South African director Shelley Berry, who is herself in a wheelchair after an assault, celebrated its world premiere at the 2019 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa.
With English sign language interpretation.
Admission to the VR Lounge is free, with limited use of individual VR stations.
There may be waiting times.
Curation: Urban Africa, Urban Movies – Africa in VR / Florian Wachinger
