Drawing upon Cultural Identity (04:36)

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Art should start a conversation and provoke the viewer; it is deeply personal. Art X Director Tokini Peterside discusses how contemporary artists draw on their African heritage for inspiration. El Anatsui, winner of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, examines his large scale installation at Haus Der Kunst.

"Mappa Mundi" (03:06)

Yinka Shonibare describes how these maps can compare to the current refugee movement in Africa. Working in found materials helps viewers discover something new about the art medium.

MOCAA (05:47)

Recently, there has been more interest in artists from African origins. The Zeitz MOCAA,located in Cape Town, is the world's largest museum dedicated to contemporary art from Africa. Thania Petersen discusses her recent exhibition where she attempts to speak about her cultural identity.

Exhibition Preparation (02:28)

Petersen photographs prayer rugs and then embroiders on top of them. The embroidery fades to black, servinh as an allegory of how movements such as Wahhabism distort religions. Critics need to pay attention to contemporary art historians and artists.

Senegalese Artists (06:45)

Africans working in the art world are passionate about reshaping the narrative into contemporary art. Kehinde Wiley, who painted the portrait of Barack Obama, has a studio in Dakar. Contemporary artists show present reality.