Shift African Aesthetics Into Design Spaces: Dr. Cornelia Lund

06/02/21 • 55 min

Meet the art, media and design theorist, curator and co-director of Fluctuating Images, a platform for media art and design, Dr. Cornelia Lund. Well-travelled and versed in the art and design world, Lund’s academic perspective and articulation substantiates and encourages validation of non-Eurocentric and Anglocentric theories and practices within the art and design framework. Lund’s intriguing analysis on recent contemporary African art trends explores music, art and design production; noticing the younger generation take up the notions of ‘post-coloniality’, reflecting African traditions, practices, techniques, and spirituality that may have been suppressed through colonialism, and combining this with a global sensibility. This has resulted in a “fresh aesthetic” and a strong global afro-centric move. Recently our host, Beatrace, has joined Lund as guest lecturer at the University of the Arts Bremen for the Deconstructing Colonialism course. Their collaborative work also goes further back to the design exhibition, Connecting Afro Futures: Fashion X Hair X Design at the Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin. Lund describes this as a “revolution”, shifting African aesthetics into design spaces from ethnographical environments.

Support the show

Support the show

Previous Episode

Explore and Reconnect Fashion and Music: Ibaaku

Ibaaku joins us for our #16episode all the way from Senegal - sonic poet, visual artist, composer, radio presenter and platform founder. This multi talented artist shares with us extensive insight into the African music scene. In true Fashion Africa Now style, the topic of fashion and music is explored on the African scene; Ibaaku describes fashion and music as “two expressions that go together. For me it’s a way to give body to the music, give body to the frequency... fashion and music are really intertwined”. Starting out as early as 2001, interesting observations are made from this well-versed musician. He touches on the gaps in the African music scene and the distinction of francophone musicians with historical constructs. Drawing inspiration from hip hop, jazz, afro music, funk and reggae at an earlier age, Ibaaku recounts his transition into the alternative music scene, away from mimicking other cultures and sounds and honing his own. In 2016 Ibaaku’s album, Alien Cartoon, pioneered the afrofuturism sound across Africa and the international stage. The goal is to keep the Senegalese culture alive, African culture and black people. In doing so he has collaborated with many Artists across the continent, recently pioneering a platform to connect alternative artists in Africa.

Support the show

Next Episode

Young, Black And Reflecting Experiences: Soji Solarin

Soji Solarin is a Nigerian born contemporary fashion designer whose experience and perception on racism in Germany and world view offer a unique perspective on ‘Blackness’. Moving to America from Nigeria at the age of 13, he’s drawn inspiration from hidden figures such as the Black cowboys in America, which we later see reflected in Soji’s first collection “Negro Cowboys“. From Nigeria to Maryland, Los Angeles, lang haul to Berlin, where he’s now based, to Moscow where he debuted his Spring 2020 collection at MBFW - Soji has been able to identify and distinguish the disparities in how he’s been received as a Nigerian-born, but also more encompassing, as a Black person. “It’s very easy for white people to just like find their place and their identity... and Black people just have to search around.” The different nuances and racial climates has propelled his approach when designing his collections, to reflect the global malleability and pride of Blackness. “I would love to be part of why people see Black people in a better light.. and contribute something fruitful to the world”.

Support the show