Project A Black Planet: Panafrica Exhibition at Barbican Criticized for Academic Language

A review of 'Project A Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica' at the Barbican Art Gallery in London criticizes the exhibition for its dense academic language and lack of accessibility. The show, which runs from 11 June to 6 September 2026, features works by artists including Yto Barrada, Job Kekana, Simone Leigh, Papa Ibra Tall, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Christopher Cozier, and Ingrid Pollard. It is a traveling exhibition previously shown at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2024 and the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona. The reviewer argues that the exhibition's heavy reliance on theoretical concepts like 'charged sites' and 'syncretic religion' alienates visitors, and that the inclusion of British artists does not sufficiently ground Pan-African ideas in a UK context. The review notes that the press view coincided with racist riots in Belfast, condemned by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, and contrasts the exhibition's opacity with the urgent need for clear communication on racial issues. The reviewer praises individual works but finds the overall presentation disjointed and a missed opportunity.