Time, Trade & Travel
In collaboration with the Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam
Bernard Akoi-Jackson
Dorothy Akpene Amenuke
Serge Clottey
Zachary Formwalt
Iris Kensmil
Aukje Koks
Navid Nuur
Jeremiah Quarshie
kąrî’kạchä seid’ou
Katarina Zdjelar
This venture examines the complexities of global exchange fostered by capitalism and its effects on life and art. The title, Time, Trade & Travel, reflects the exhibition’s focus on historical encounters between Europeans and Africans, particularly through trade and cultural exchange. The participating artists present diverse perspectives, investigating how economic and cultural relationships of the past continue to shape contemporary realities.
The exhibition provides a platform for artistic inquiries into pre-colonial trade, colonial legacies, and the persistent imperialistic conditions underlying globalization. Drawing on the long-standing trade relations between Ghana and the Netherlands, officially reinforced by a cooperation agreement between Amsterdam and Accra in 2004, the exhibition delves into the enduring impact of these histories.
The exhibition premiered at SMBA in Amsterdam from 25 August to 21 October 2012 before traveling to the Nubuke Foundation in Accra, where it will run from 25 November 2012 to 3 February 2013.
Time, Trade & Travel is accompanied by an extensive SMBA Newsletter (available in English and Dutch), featuring a curatorial introduction, detailed entries on the participating artists, and an essay by Dr. Rhoda Woets on the work and teaching of art tutor kąrî’kạchä seid’ou of the College of Art in Kumasi, Ghana.