Museums and the Formation of National and Cultural Identities
Author(s)
Coombes, Annie E.
Abstract
This chapter discusses exhibitions of African art held outside of Africa, primarily in Europe and the United States. While both ‘art’ and exhibition were mostly unknown in Africa until relatively recently, African-made objects have been appropriated by non-Africans for purposes of display for well over a century. The significance of exhibitions in shaping our understand of African art and a survey of some of the key shows of African art held since the mid-1980s are explored. The emphasis here is on the Royal Academy show “Africa: The Art of a Continent” and one other major exhibition “Seven Stories about Modern Art in Africa” at the Whitechapel Art Gallery.
