November 10, 2018–February 4, 2019
A programme of exhibitions in Oaxaca, focusing on artistic practices of Southern Africa.
Crossing Night (Hacer Noche) is a major exhibition initiative that presents the work of contemporary artists from Southern Africa across Oaxaca’s City’s museums and cultural centres. Comprising five exhibitions, an artists’ residency programme, a community-based educational programme, and a conference, Crossing Night undertakes to explore the historical links between southern Africa and Mexico through shared histories of conolialism and slavery.
Crossing Night looks comparatively at societal relationships with death in Southern Africa and in Mexico as an entry point to a broader search for shared ways of relating to history in the present in these two postcolonial regions.
The project touches on the fragility and finitude of human experience, the relationship between violence and death, the ethics of how we relate to corpses, our rituals of life, passing and the afterlife, our connections with our ancestors, and how our will for form is at the last instance a will to be remembered.
Opening programme:
Crossing Night (group exhibition)
Venue: Ex-Convento Santo Domingo and San Pablo Cultural Centre
Tiago Borges*, Steven Cohen, Marlene Dumas, Dumile Feni, Kendell Geers, Jared Ginsburg, David Goldblatt, Georgina Gratrix*, Haroon Gunn Sallie, Dan Halter*, Nicholas Hlobo, Jackson Hlungwani, Pieter Hugo*, William Kentridge*, David Koloane, Moshekwa Langa, Kemang Wa Lehulere, Ernest Mancoba, Sabelo Mlangeni, Santu Mofokeng, Samson Mudzunga, Zanele Muholi, Simphiwe Ndzube*, António Ole*, Athi Patra-Ruga, Jo Ractliffe, Robin Rhode, Cinga Samson, Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi, Johannes Segogela, Penny Siopis, James Webb, Portia Zvavahera. *indicates new commission
Sunday, November 4
Preview of William Kentridge, More Sweetly Play the Dance
Venue: CASA
Time: 12pm (noon)
Access limited to 250 guests. Email anthea [at] crossingnight.com for enquiries.
Tuesday, November 6–Friday, November 9
Crossing Night Talks
Venue: San Pablo Cultural Centre
Time: 10am–12pm and 6–7:30pm
November 9: 5–6pm
Friday, November 9
Join us in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Graphic Arts Institute of Oaxaca (IAGO). IAGO is one of Crossing Night’s partner institutions.
Venue: IAGO
Time: 7:30pm
Saturday, November 10
Grand opening: Crossing Night main exhibitions
Venue: Ex-Convento Santo Domingo and San Pablo Cultural Centre.
Time: Meet at Santo Domingo at 12pm. Proceed with a Calenda to San Pablo Cultural Centre at 1:30pm
Grand opening: William Kentridge: More Sweetly Play the Dance
Venue: CASA
Time: 5:30pm
Openings of Jo Ractliffe, Hay Tiempo, No Hay Tiempo (solo), and Pieter Hugo, Aquí se rompió una taza
Venue: Centro Fotografico Manuel Alvarez
Time: 7:30pm
*Please note: All events are free of charge and open to the public. Places must be reserved for the preview of More Sweetly Play the Dance on November 4, 2018
Crossing Night is an initiative of the Idris Naim Foundation and the National Institute of Fine Arts, Mexico. Exhibitions will be on view until February 5, 2019. The project is realized in partnership with the National Institute of Fine Arts, INBA (Mexico),The Alfredo Harp Helú Foundation (Mexico), The A4 Arts Foundation (South Africa), The Friends of IAGO and CFMAB Association (Mexico) and the Ministry of Arts & Cultures of the State of Oaxaca.