Geometries of Afro Asia: Art Beyond Solidarity, by Joan Kee. University of California, 2023. 320 pages.ON A 2011 VISIT TO ZAMBRIA, Hillary Clinton warned of a “new colonialism” in the African continent. “We saw that during colonial times, it is easy to come in, take out natural resources, pay off leaders and leave,” she warned.But who, for Clinton, were these unnamed new colonizers? China: a country that had poured about $10 billion in investments into Africa. (The secretary of state’s staff confirmed her meaning later, for those who were confused.) Critics called out her remarks for hypocrisy.
WHEN CONFRONTED by a Japanese journalist about the scandal that haunted the previous Aichi Triennale, artistic director Kataoka Mami responded with: “This has been asked too many times,” and “Let the [current] exhibition speak for itself.” Leaving us “outsiders” stunned, these statements seemed calibrated to banish from our minds that now-distant conflict, when outrage over a sculpture commemorating Korean women enlisted into sexual slavery by the Japanese military forced the closure an entire section of the exhibition (ironically titled “After Freedom of Expression?”), let alone the myriad
WHEN CONFRONTED by a Japanese journalist about the scandal that haunted the previous Aichi Triennale, artistic director Kataoka Mami responded with: “This has been asked too many times,” and “Let the [current] exhibition speak for itself.” Leaving us “outsiders” stunned, these statements seemed calibrated to banish from our minds that now-distant conflict, when outrage over a sculpture commemorating Korean women enlisted into sexual slavery by the Japanese military forced the closure an entire section of the exhibition (ironically titled “After Freedom of Expression?”), let alone the myriad
This summer, check out five notable works of art on view in the region: Margaret Noble at Plumosa Park; Phillip K. Smith III at OMA; Natalia Ventura at The Front; Chris Burden and Bryon Kim at MCASD downtown; and Alika Cooper at Oolong Gallery.