Red Africa launches tonight at Calvert 22

Tonight Calvert 22 will host the launch of of Red Africa, a season on the legacy of cultural relationships between Africa, the Soviet Union and related countries during the Cold War.

The season will comprise an exhibition, film screenings, talks and a host of exciting events, presenting both historical and contemporary responses to the geopolitical and cultural connections of African nations to the Soviet Union and related countries.

The highlight of the Red Africa season, the exhibition Things Fall Apart will feature artists, filmmakers and groups from across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Drawing on film, photography, propaganda, and public art, the exhibition presents interdisciplinary reflections on African connections to the Soviet Union and related countries. The exhibition is curated by Mark Nash.

The participating artists are 
Filipa César; Onejoon Che; Radovan Cukić and Ivan Manojlović (Museum of Yugoslav History); Angela Ferreira; Yevgeniy Fiks; Kiluanji Kia Henda; Isaac Julien; Stevan Labudović and Milica Tomić; Tonel; The Travelling Communiqué Group; Jo Ractliffe.

Accompanying the exhibition, a series of events and screenings will take place at Calvert 22. Throughout the season, a number of films will be screened, including works from African directors of international renown such as Abderrahmane Sissako and avant-garde cinematic innovators like Chris Marker. In addition, on 5 February a supper club will showcase the distinctive take on Contemporary West African gastronomy by soon-to-open restaurant iKOYi, while on 25 Feb Calvert 22 will partner with The Africa Centre to present a night featuring of some of the most innovative Afrobeat acts around, hosted at Rich Mix in Shoreditch.

Full details of the programme can be found on Calvert 22’s events page. Information about the launch can be found here.

Red Africa will take place from 4 February - 3 April 2016 at Calvert 22 in London’s Shoreditch.