The African Artist’s Foundation is pleased to announce the fourth edition of its traveling exhibition “Dig Where You Stand.” To round out the year in style, the exhibition is traveling to Benin through December 1, continuing its unique artistic approach focused on the regenerative potential of art in Africa and its diasporas. Under the direction of photographer Delali Ayivi, with curatorial guidance from AAF founder Azu Nwagbogu, the exhibition will be presented in two iconic art spaces: the Zinsou Foundation, Ouidah museum, and the Ateliers Coffi in Cotonou.
Following the resounding success of the third edition in Portugal, entitled “Dig Where You Stand: From Coast to Coast,” the AAF has chosen to make a stopover in Benin. This decision is in line with the fruitful collaborations with the country, notably during the LagosPhoto Festival 2023 and through the Benin Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2024. The AAF is thus giving itself the opportunity to deepen artistic exchanges with Benin, while reflecting on contemporary identities in Africa and its diaspora. This exhibition promises to be a true celebration of the creativity and cultural richness of the continent.
On the program of “Dig Where You Stand in Benin”, a variety of stimulating events are on the agenda: round tables, interactive workshops and exhibitions that explore art as a lever for understanding the collective. Thinkers from diverse backgrounds, both local and international, will be present, going beyond societal barriers, class divisions and geographical borders to enrich the dialogues.
The exhibition will also showcase over 50 artworks, ranging from paintings to photographs to innovative installations, by 22 committed artists, who have already participated or are joining the cohort of artists for this edition of “Dig where you stand”. The discourse will focus on examining the complex relationships between nature, religion, geopolitics, socio-economics and time, while explaining how these elements shape culture and identity. The aim will be to explore in depth the local identities of the African continent and their contemporary resonance.
In a context where creativity and imagination are often neglected or repressed in West Africa and its diaspora, this exhibition aims to claim their crucial importance. Indeed, these qualities are essential for societies to envision their future with optimism and project themselves towards progress. Unfortunately, many communities in these regions have encountered obstacles in reusing their own history and culture in shaping their path. This initiative aims to address this dynamic and revive the creative potential of populations.
Committed to promoting art as a vehicle for restorative narratives, the fourth edition of “Dig Where You Stand in Benin” highlights artists whose practices embody a modern and self-directed vision of African culture. These creators reconnect with their roots through the exploration of their own experiences and stories.
The exhibition will take place in several cultural spaces in Ouidah and Cotonou, highlighting works by artists who have already participated in previous editions, such as Zanele Muholi, Bright Ackwerh and Joana Choumali. New talents will also make their debut, including Beninese artist Charbel Coffi, American multimedia artist Bayete Ross Smith and Togolese Roméo Mivekannin.
“Dig Where You Stand” is much more than an exhibition; it is a cultural experience and a movement committed to exploring the role of art in transmuting the decolonial paradigm of Western museums towards a solution-oriented approach adapted to each context. By focusing on the themes of travel, migration and (dis)placement, artists and local communities question the economies of colonial systems that have historically marginalized vulnerable groups, while developing new artistic methodologies. These initiatives create a favorable framework, a veritable toolbox to initiate regenerative economic processes. Following this Beninese edition, the exhibition will continue its journey across Africa, with stops in 2025 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and Dakar, Senegal.
“Dig where you stand” : participating artists
Bayete Ross Smith, Bruno and Brice ZOUNTOUNNO, Caleb Kwarteng Prah, Charbel Coffi, Dodji Efoui, Enar de Dios Rodríguez, Enrique Ramírez, Joana Choumali, Kapwani Kiwanga, Kwami Da Costa, Louis Oke-Agbo, MAR+VIN, Natalia Lassalle Morillo, Nedia Were, DJ Orlando, Oroko Radio, Renzo Martens and CATPC, Roméo Mivekannin, Salu Iwadi Studio, Silvia Rosi, Victor Ehikhamenor and Zaneli Muholi.