Divided into seven sections, the exhibition features 129 textile pieces as well as headpieces, masks, and sculptures aimed at inspiring new perceptions of Africa by offering a diverse and multifaceted vision of a continent rich in knowledge, traditions, and artistic contributions.
Curated by Danilo Lovisi and Renato Menezes, this exhibition is the result of research on ancestral textile technologies and the transmission of traditional African knowledge. The curators visited several regions of Cameroon to establish connections with museum professionals, traditional authorities, institutions, and local artisans—a process that proved crucial for the development of the project. The exhibited objects are made from various materials and serve multiple functions, providing insight into the rituals and cosmologies of various African peoples. Masks, tunics, ornaments, embroidered and dyed fabrics, as well as statuettes, help tell a story that travels between spirit and earth—that is, between the individual intelligences and creative freedoms of each artisan, and the earth, a place associated with the preservation of traditions and collective identities.
Dates: August 31, 2024, to February 2, 2025
Location: Pinacoteca de São Paulo, Brazil