Soul-searching needn’t be reserved for epic, faraway adventures, argues Kate Hamilton – getting to know yourself starts much closer to home. But what does that mean for people who historically view all travel as a non-essential luxury, and how can the travel industry empower Africans to explore their own continent?
Since Zeitz MOCAA made its entrance to Cape Town’s Waterfront in September 2017, Africa’s contemporary art scene has blossomed. But as an attraction that’s now arguably as alluring as the Motherland’s great landscapes, what’s next for the African art world? Melissa Twigg investigates.
When just 0.05 per cent of the works shown at Art Basel or the Frieze Art Fair are of African origin, the African-centric 1:54 Art Fair has proved revolutionary in raising the profile of African art outside of the continent, and consequently, in bringing more tourism to Africa. But are region-specific shows excluding Africa from art’s central stage?
High-end travel in Africa might be fabulous, but without venturing outside of their hotel, travellers can be left none-the-wiser to the cool happenings around and about in today’s contemporary Africa. For the real deal, get them to lace their boots and book their spot on one of these top-notch urban street tours across Africa.
Today the 100,000-square-foot Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa opens its doors to the public. As the biggest public art space to launch on the continent for more than a century, it looks set to change the contemporary art market as we know it.
The continent’s top boutiques, hotel gift shops and department stores can swap their European and American lines for clothes by the plethora of talented local designers: African fashion is finally in the global spotlight.