Ancestral traditions are a source of inspiration. Over the centuries, these traditions have taken shape in objects, stories, visual languages and rituals. In Africa, traditions, the role of ancestors and spirituality play a prominent role in daily life. In Europe, ancestral traditions have increasingly been pushed into the background. Instead, inspiration is drawn from our artistic ancestors.
This exhibition brings together four artists who draw inspiration from their (artistic) ancestors.
Option Dzikamai Nyahunzvi traces ancestral lines and explores the spiritual essence of his culture. His ancestors whisper a language to him that speaks of community, connection and the cycle of life.
Alida Ymele created new works for this exhibition. She literally depicts symbols and objects that refer to ancestral traditions within the Bamiléké tradition of Western Cameroon, from which she descends.
Maarten Dekker draws inspiration from artistic ancestors such as Rietveld and Mondrian. Repetition is a key strategy for setting aside the rational and forging a more spiritual connection that transcends the material.
Joel Mpah Dooh also references artistic ancestors: the anonymous African sculptors. They play a key role in his drawings, alongside Mpah Dooh’s interpretation of contemporary daily life in the aftermath of decolonisation.
