Inauguration of an AU/EU Travelling Exhibition at the African Union's Headquarters
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 27, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- After Tripoli and Ouagadougou, the travelling exhibition VISIONARY AFRICA: ART AT WORK visits the African Union's headquarters
It was in a pavilion made of wood, exclusively designed for this event, right in the middle of the African Union's premises that, on Wednesday 25th of January 2012, representatives from the African Union Commission and European Union, diplomats and journalists from all over Africa discovered a series of outstanding photographs in the context of the VISIONARY AFRICA: ART AT WORK exhibition.
Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Mr. Gary Quince, Ambassador of the European Union to the AU underlined the deep link that exists between art and politics. And, indeed, several of the photographs perfectly illustrate their statements.
The works of art of this travelling exhibition, organized by the European Union in participation with the African Union, is as a result of the collaboration between African and European cultural institutions, (Palais des Beaux Arts Bruxelles along with eight African art centers)
In his inaugural speech, Dr Jean Ping said “After its stops at Tripoli and Ouagadougou the African Union, which represents all Africa, is pleased to receive this travelling exhibition for a few days, as it bears witness not only to the vitality of the partnership between Africa and Europe, but allows us measure the extent to which the creative abundance of African photographers has mounted the world stage".
In his address, Ambassador Quince said “ This project was designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the independence of approximately 20 African countries and also to showcase the wealth and diversity of African creators as well as the necessity to take into account culture being a vector of development ",
The exhibition was launched in December 2010, during Africa-European Union Summit in Tripoli; it then went to Ouagadougou in March 2011. The exhibition will be at the AU for some days after which it will be transferred to Cairo before proceeding to two other African capital cities.
Each time it settles in a city, a pavilion, designed by Ghanaian architect David Adjaye, is built with local wood, the structure is then offered to a local organization to allow local artists to showcase their work.
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Please note that a few photos of the event are available at the following link: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/african_union/press_corner/photo_library/index_en.htm