The new exhibition at the Kunstgewerbemuseum, “Connecting Afro Futures. Fashion x Hair x Design”, is an homage to the rich diversity of African art. The artists, mainly from fashion capitals Dakar (Senegal, West Africa) and Kampala (Uganda, East Africa), reinterpret old traditions in order to portray them more vividly to the viewer. At the core of the exhibition is a focus on fashion, design and –– above all –– hair. The emotional significance placed on Afro hair is successfully explained and illustrated, and the liberation from Western ideals of beauty is celebrated. Afro hair is incorporated in almost every garment, film and design, and many of the designers also employ recycled materials, such as tree bark, to produce the cloths sustainably. As a person of color, it is an especially great pleasure to see my own culture represented in art. The theme of the exhibition is for everyone, though: if you are curious about this important topic and want to see more, the doors of the exhibition are open until December 2019 (Text: Louisa Sodji / Photos: Aldi Diasse, Mario Epanya & Achim Kleuker)
Kunstgewerbemuseum, Matthäikirchplatz 10785 Berlin–Tiergarten; map
“Connecting Afro Futures. Fashion x Hair x Design” running until 01.12.2019
Tue–Fri 10–18h, Sat–Sun 11–18h
