Overview
Entitled "PORTRAITS FOR ENGLISH TO SEE", the exhibition will premiere on October 9th at THE AFRICA CENTRE, and is curated by the acclaimed Angolan architect and curator Paula Nascimento, winner of the 2013 Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the Venice Biennale.
The exhibition features seven new works that are part of René Tavares' most recent and iconic painting series - "Portraits for English to See" and "Cotton People Reloaded" - the result of a production and research process that crosses the fields of archive photography and painting.
The title comes from the old Portuguese saying "para inglês ver" (for English to see), which emerged in Brazil in the 1830s when Britain called on the country to enact legislation to restrain the slave trade. Unfortunately, the regulatory measures promulgated at the time had an insignificant impact. However, the expression has persisted over time as a synonym for superficiality, being revived by the artist with this very meaning to highlight themes that are deeply intertwined with the historical and socio-political issues that have moulded the construction of various African nations.
By questioning heritage that has been assimilated, neglected and forgotten and challenging the rigidity of categories and prejudices, René Tavares aims to raise awareness and trigger processes of resilience and social empowerment through his work.
The series presented in this exhibition are notable for their grandiose scale and the skilful manipulation of paints and powdered pigments, with which the artist creates landscapes with cotton fields and malleable surfaces, which often take on an earthy appearance. The persistence of the layer and miscegenation concepts define the capital structure of René Tavares' work, where the artist repeatedly introduces unavoidable conceptual combinations, cross-cultural and heritage references and composite plastic solutions.
René Tavares occupies a central position in the Santomean art scene and stands as a prominent figure within the contemporary art landscape of the Lusophone geographic space. In recent years, his visibility has surged both across Africa and internationally.
As part of the presentation of this exhibition, on October 13th, at 7 pm, The Africa Centre hosted an artist talk entitled "Unfinished Histories", through which we will delve into the core elements of Tavares' artistic practice. The event was a unique opportunity to meet Tavares and deepen the understanding of the central elements of his artistic practice, as well as to interact with some of the most relevant and influential curatorial and cultural voices working with Africa and the art scene of its diaspora: Angolan architect and curator Paula Nascimento, participating as speaker, and British independent curator, academic and researcher Paul Goodwin, acting as moderator.
Works
Installation Views
Press
Portraits for English to see in The Africa Centre
Mariana Baião Santos, UMBIGO, 24 October 2023
Portraits for English to See: THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE in partnership with The Africa Center presents René Tavares
ARTAFRICA, ARTAFRICA, 4 October 2023
René Tavares to exhibit solo for the first time in the UK
BANTUMEN, 4 October 2023
René Tavares: Portraits for English to See
Solo Show at The Africa Centre, in LondonC&10, 4 October 2023
São Toméan artist René Tavares opens solo exhibition in London
Pedro Mbinza, Forbes África Lusófona, 9 October 2023
THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE partners with The Africa Center to presents René Tavares
Art Report Africa, 8 October 2023
Publications
Related content
Portraits for English to see in The Africa Centre
UMBIGO24 October 2023Read more
PORTRAITS FOR ENGLISH TO SEE | Solo Show by René Tavares
Exhibition Catalogue20 October 2023Read moreSão Toméan artist René Tavares opens solo exhibition in London
Forbes África Lusófona9 October 2023Read moreTHIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE partners with The Africa Center to presents René Tavares
Art Report Africa8 October 2023Read morePortraits for English to See: THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE in partnership with The Africa Center presents René Tavares
ARTAFRICA4 October 2023Read moreRené Tavares to exhibit solo for the first time in the UK
BANTUMEN4 October 2023Read moreRené Tavares: Portraits for English to See
C&104 October 2023Read more
