Performa 17 Biennial Returns to New York with Focus on African Artists
The biennial event for performing arts, Performa 17, is taking place in New York until November 19, 2017, under the organization of Performa. Established in 2004 by RoseLee Goldberg, this event investigates the significance of live performance within 20th-century art. The Performa Commissions initiative aids visual artists who lack extensive performance backgrounds, with leadership from Goldberg and curators Adrienne Edwards, Charles Aubin, Defne Ayas, and Mark Beasley. This edition highlights artists from Africa, such as Jimmy Robert, William Kentridge, and Zanele Muholi, who describes herself as a 'visual activist.' Muholi's ongoing project, 'Faces and Phases,' captures the LGBTQI community, and her exhibition at Yancey Richardson Gallery is open until December 9, featuring pieces from 'Somnyama Ngonyama.'
Key facts
- Performa 17 runs until November 19, 2017, in New York.
- The biennial is organized by the non-profit Performa organization.
- Performa was founded in 2004 by RoseLee Goldberg.
- The Performa Commissions program started in the fifth edition.
- 65 commissions have been realized to date.
- The 2017 edition focuses on artists from Africa.
- Commissioned artists include Jimmy Robert, William Kentridge, Barbara Kruger, Julie Mehretu, Jason Moran, Tarik Kiswanson, Kemang Wa Lehulere, Yto Barrada, Wangechi Mutu, Kelly Nipper, Tracey Rose, and Zanele Muholi.
- Zanele Muholi performed at Stonewall Inn, Schomburg Center, BAAD!, and Leslie Lohman Museum.
- Muholi has an exhibition at Yancey Richardson Gallery until December 9, 2017.
- Muholi is known for her series 'Faces and Phases' and 'Somnyama Ngonyama'.
- In 2010, South African Minister Lulu Xingwana denounced a Muholi exhibition.
- Muholi describes herself as a 'visual activist'.
Entities
Artists
- RoseLee Goldberg
- Shirin Neshat
- Jimmy Robert
- William Kentridge
- Barbara Kruger
- Julie Mehretu
- Jason Moran
- Tarik Kiswanson
- Kemang Wa Lehulere
- Yto Barrada
- Wangechi Mutu
- Kelly Nipper
- Tracey Rose
- Zanele Muholi
- Adrienne Edwards
- Charles Aubin
- Defne Ayas
- Mark Beasley
- Lulu Xingwana
Institutions
- Performa
- Stonewall Inn
- Schomburg Center
- BAAD!
- Leslie Lohman Museum
- Yancey Richardson Gallery
- Paris Photo
- Stevenson Gallery
- Artribune
Locations
- New York
- Chelsea
- South Africa
- Morocco
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Africa