CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 8/19/2015

Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design

"Contemporary art practices with their interdisciplinary approach and blurred boundaries between art forms have fused design as the ligand that binds and informs virtually each creative endeavor," African Arts Foundation founder Azu Nwagbogu writes in Making Africa, Vitra Design Museum's enlightening new survey of contemporary African art and design. He singles out Omar Victor Diop's latest series of self-portraits as a particular "tour de force," explaining, "Diaspora is fascinating and makes a compelling argument for revisiting the legacy of Africans in Europe. Diop focuses on a period between the 15th and 19th century. A journey of personal and familial identity which—without getting lost in its irony—was produced and inspired by Diop's time on a residency in Málaga, Spain. Diaspora travels back in time to bring to view the legacy of iconic Africans who left a positive impression in Europe. Each image is transmuted to a contemporary age, with design objects that reference sport at a time games like football or baseball did not exist. It forces us to reflect on the legacy of our sporting heroes today and a comparative view about the status of these iconic Africans from previous times."