Archaeology of Motivations - Rewriting History

by Okwui Enwezor, Elizabeth Harney, Stephan Kohler

The history that African artist Georges Adaagbo "rewrites" is plural and nonhierarchical, a history that is constantly shifting and being shifted, in which seemingly valid parameters are being subverted, and from which diverse readings emerge. In installations that juxtapose books, magazines, record sleeves, and photographs from Africa with objects and texts from the country in which he is working, Adeagbo elucidates and reinterprets the processes that have led to the development, replacement, and breakup of territories and political and philosophical systems. This first monograph documents 13 of the artist's installations from the last 10 years, including "The Story of the Lion," which won a prize at the Venice Biennale in 1999, and provides a thorough exploration of an important figure in contemporary African art.

Paperback

First published February 2, 2002

About the author

Okwui Enwezor was a Nigerian curator, art critic, writer, poet, and educator, specializing in art history. He lived in New York City and Munich. In 2014, he was ranked #24 in the ArtReview list of the 100 most powerful people of the art world.