Afropean Mimicry & Mockery III 2016
Festival of Afropean Arts – Afropean Mimicry & Mockery in Theatre, Performance & Visual Arts III
Mutual attributions and artistic strategies of attribution are the issues dealt with by the artists, which we have invited from the African continent, from Europe and the African diaspora to our Festival of Afropean Arts. The thematic foci and issues of the past Afropean Mimicry & Mockery I and II now culminate in this year’s ten-day festival. Black knowledge will once again take charge of a white institution – seeking out modes of resistance and the subversive potential of mimicry, sheding a spotlight on counter-narratives. Once again, we are bringing many artists to Frankfurt for the first time to give their agendas and artistic work a platform. A particular focus of this year’s invited Black female artists lies on socially ascribed roles – being woman, being Black, being the Other. Merciless analyses and empowering visions are presented by Nelisiwe Xaba, Selina Thompson, Elisabeth Bakambamba Tambwe and Simone Dede Ayivi. The new piece Nkenguégi by Dieudonné Niangouna – associated artist at Mousonturm since 2014 – tells the story of a man’s flight from Congo to Europe. Theater im Bahnhof Graz and Monster Truck address the arbitrary nature of African-European commitment and the massive misunderstandings involved. Julian Warner & Oliver Zahn examine appropriation and (dance)history. Together, we take a closer look at (post-)colonial structures in urban planning worldwide, dance to the African beats of Spoek Mathambo, DJ Zhao, STELOOLIVE and Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids, debate issues in our Staging the Postcolonial lab. But above all, we will seek out new role models and visions. Towards a post-racist society of the future.
