Performative Utopias

 

 

In Africa and in the diasporas, a strong performative landscape has been emerging since the 1980s. This is linked, on the one hand, to a scathing critique of the deadly effects of capitalism, both in the long term and in its present sense, and, on the other hand, to the elaboration of possible alternatives, linked to the hope of less violently divided futures. The main focus of Utopias performatives is the deployment of performance in Africa and in the diasporas for the purpose of transgression. In the wake of contemporary artists, the aim is to reflect on the intersections between performative acts and political contestation. This moment is built around performances, lectures and film screenings by performers, as well as interventions by researchers and artist/researcher dialogues.

With the artists: Laetitita Ajanohun (Belgium), M'barka Amor (France), Aurélien Arnoux (France), Jelili Atiku (Nigeria), Sammy Baloji (DRC), Lucas Bervin-Almeida (France), Ana Bloom (France), Aurore Déon (France), Jules Romain Djihounouck (Senegal), Julie Djikey (DRC), Vhan Olsen Dombo (DRC), Fabiana Ex-Souza (Brazil), Nicolas Faubert (France), André Fernandez (France), Michiko Fou (France), Justine Gaga (Cameroon), Amin Gulgee (Pakistan), Mayara Haddour (France), Dunja Herzog (Germany), Raymond Hosny (Lebanon), Androa Mindre Kolo (DRC), Kongo Astronauts (DRC), Gosette Lubondo (DRC), Lamyne M (Cameroon) , Nelson Makengo (DRC), Lionel Manga (Cameroon), Hura Mirshekari (Iran), Orakle (DRC), Aida Nosrat (Iran), Precy Numbi (DRC), Jay Pather (South Africa), Alain Polo (DRC), Christiane Prince (France), Yasmina Reggad (Belgium), Maria Sawizki (Belgium), Dread Scott (United States), Tess Selgi (France), Zora Snake (Cameroon), Abi Tariq (Pakistan), Hervé Yamguen (Cameroon), Mehdi Yarmohammadi (Iran), Nelisiwe Xaba (South Africa).
And the speakers: Sara Alonso Gómez (Cuba/France), Lotte Arndt (France), Catherine Cole (USA), Filip De Boeck (Belgium), Marinette Jeannerod (France), Dominique Malaquais (France), Cléophée Moser (France), Valérie Osouf (France) , Julie Peghini (France), Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez (Slovenia), Malika Rahal (France), Joseph Tonda (Gabon).

On the program 

- Friday, September 10th, 2021 -
• 9:30-10:00 AM Reception of the public
• 10:00-10:30 AM Opening of the Performative Utopias
• 10:30-11:15 AM Performance by the artist Jelili Atiku
• 11:30 AM -12:00 PM Exchange between the artist Jelili Atiku and the public
• 12:15-13:00 PM Intervention of the philosopher Joseph Tonda
• 1:00-2:15 PM Free lunch
• 2:15-2:45 PM Performance by artists Precy Numbi and Maria Sawizki
• 3-3:45 PM Exchange between artists Precy Numbi and Maria Sawizki, art theorist Lotte Arndt and researcher Marinette Jeannerod
• 3:45-4:15PM Screening of a filmed performance by the artist M'barka Amor
• 4:15-4:45PM Refreshment break 5-5:30 PM Performance by artist Fabiana Ex-Souza
• 5:30-6:15 PM Exchange between the artists M'barka Amor and Fabiana Ex-Souza and the curator Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez
• 6:15-7:30 PM Free break
• 7:30-8 PM Screening of the film Nuit debout (2019) by director Nelson Makengo
• 8-8:45 PM Exchange between the director Nelson Makengo and the director Valérie Osouf
• 8:45-9:15 PM Screening of the film Postcolonial Dilemma Track #05 (in the process of) by Kongo Astronauts (2021)

- Saturday, September 11th, 2021-
• 9:30-10:00 AM Reception of the public
• 10:00-11:00 AM Exchange between the artist Sammy Baloji, the anthropologist Filip de Boeck and the researcher Dominique Malaquais, moderated by the researcher Julie Peghini
• 11:15-11:45 AM Performance by writer and actress Laetitita Ajanohun and musician Aurélien Arnoux
• 12:00-12:45 PM Filmed intervention of the artist Dread Scott - English
• 1:00-2:15 PM Free lunch
• 2:15-2:45 PM Performance by artist Alain Polo
• 3-3:30 PM Exchange between the artist Alain Polo and the researcher/artist Cléophée Moser
• 3:45-4:30PM Performance by artist Aurore Déon
• 4:45-5:45 PM Performative intervention and listening session commented by the artist Yasmina Reggad and the historian Malika Rahal
• 5:45-6:15 PM Refreshment break
• 6:37-7:54 PM 77-minute carte blanche to curator and performer Amin Gulgee, in collaboration with artists Lamyne M and Vhan Olsen Dombo, as well as artists Lucas Bervin-Almeida, Ana Bloom, Jules Romain Djihounouck, Nicolas Faubert, André Fernandez, Michiko Fou, Mayara Haddour, Raymond Hosny, Lionel Manga, Hura Mirshekari, Orakle, Aida Nosrat, Christiane Prince, Tess Selgi, Abi Tariq, Mehdi Yarmohammadi.

- Sunday, Septembre 12th, 2021 -
• 10:30 - 11:00 AM Reception of the public
• 11 AM- 12:30 PM Performance by artist Hervé Yamguen in tribute to artist Goddy Leye
• 12:45-13:15 PM Performance by the artist Zora Snake
• 1:15-2:30 PM Free lunch 2:30-3 PM Performance by artist Androa Mindre Kolo
• 3:15-3:30 PM Screening of a filmed performance by the artist Julie Djikey
• 3:30-4:30 PM Screening of works by the artist Gosette Lubondo, followed by an exchange between the artists Androa Mindre Kolo, Julie Djikey and Gosette Lubondo and the curator Sara Alonso Gómez
• 4:30-5:00 PM Refreshment break
• 5:00-5:45 PM Filmed presentation by performance historian Catherine Cole - English
• 6:00-7:00 PM Screening of interviews by choreographer Jay Pather, with Nelisiwe Xaba - English
• 7:00-7:30 PM Performance by artist Nelisiwe Xaba

About the Cité internationale des arts : 

Ever since the Cité internationale des arts was founded in 1965, artists have been coming from all over the world to take part in our artist-in-residence programmes. The Cité encourages cross-cultural dialogue and provides a place where artists can meet with their public and other professionals. The Cité internationale des arts is located on two separate sites; the first is in Paris’ Marais district and the second in Montmartre. Every month, in partnership with 135 French and international organisations, the Cité’s two complementary sites welcome more than 300 artists from a wide range of disciplines for residencies lasting up to 1 year.
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