Introduction

Presents a collection of essays developed from papers presented at the 1996 AICA conference on `Art criticism and Africa'. In her introduction, Deepwell considers the role of art criticism, its history and how it can approach contemporary African art, and examines the range of different positions and experiences represented in the texts. There are 13 essays. Olabisi Silva examines exhibitions of contemporary African art, with particular reference to the Whitechapel Art Gallery's Seven Stories about Modern Art in Africa in London in 1995; John Picton explores the character and history of, and relationship between, European and African practices in making art, in exhibiting it, and in art criticism; and Everlyn Nicodemus considers the role of the art critic as advocate. Ola Oloidi examines art criticism in Nigeria between 1920 and 1996; Murray McCartney considers art criticism in Zimbabwe; and Barbara Murray describes the experience of Gallery magazine in Zimbabwe. Tony Mhonda considers the role of the art critic in Zimbabwe; David Koloane questions the relevance of art criticism in South Africa, given the inequalities in the visual arts there; and Colin Richards also assesses art criticism in South Africa. Chika Okeke advocates a multi-perspective view of art criticism, rather than a schema based on oppositional dualities; Fatma Ismail Afifi describes the Kom Ghorab project in Cairo, which seeks through the collaboration of artists and critics to establish a new language of art; and Olu Oguibe examines the state of art criticism in Africa and its future. In the final essay, George Shire examines the criticism of African art outside Africa.

London: Saffron Books. 1998, 125 pp. 41 illus. (16 colour) ISBN: 1-872-843-13-1