“Africa Fashion” presents the designers and other creators who lead it advance of the Black Continent in the 21st century. Turning the spotlight on key works by designers, artists and artisans illuminates an arsenal of artistic visions originating from Africa and the African diaspora.

A century passed until the Brooklyn Museum became the first art institution to present African art to a North American audience. The curators Ernestine White-Mifetu and Annissa Malvoisin they collected over 300 items, including not only fashion and textiles but also jewellery, art, photography and video as well as vintage posters, magazine covers and other disposable items.

They also worked with the Brooklyn Public Library to make copies of the books on display for visitors to purchase upon leaving.

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The “Africa Fashion” exhibition was first presented last year at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. But as Ernestine White-Mifetu, curator of African art at the New York museum, pointed out, “it was important to bring in the narratives of the North American creators here.” They adapted the exhibition for a new audience, complementing it with works from the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, one of the largest collections of African art in the US.

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One of the most intense sections of the exhibition is an area devoted to photography, which has played an especially large role in African life since the invention of the camera. “We wanted to show the importance of the camera in the articulation of style by people who were just free to imagine, dress and interpret their identity,” explained White-Mifetu. “I hope the exhibition will challenge viewers’ perception of African fashion. Whether through visual arts, or music, or fashion, Africa’s contribution to the global conversation is rich and long-lasting.”

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