Goya & Africa : a digital exhibition connecting two artistic worlds
The online exhibition Goya & Africa offers a unique perspective by linking the works of Spanish painter Francisco de Goya with those of contemporary African artists, highlighting the resonances between their artistic visions.
Launched in February 2025, Goya & Africa is an innovative digital exhibition that establishes a dialogue between the works of Spanish painter Francisco de Goya (1746-1828) and those of several contemporary African artists. This initiative aims to explore the universal themes of war, oppression, and resilience across time and continents.
Among the African artists featured are Michael Armitage, Dumile Feni, Ronald Harrison, William Kentridge, Roméo Mivekannin, Grace Nyahangare, Johannes Phokela, Athi-Patra Ruga, Yinka Shonibare MBE, and Diane Victor. Their works provide contemporary perspectives on the legacies of war and colonialism, resonating with Goya’s poignant engravings, particularly his series The Disasters of War.
The exhibition is organized into four thematic virtual galleries: « Unsafe, » « Broken Promise, » « Belief vs Reason, » and « Reimagining the Future. » Each section invites visitors to reflect on the parallels between the works, despite differences in time and place. For example, South African artist Dumile Feni, known as « the Goya of the townships, » is recognized for his drawings and sculptures reflecting the struggles under apartheid.
This online exhibition is designed to be accessible, particularly to young people with little knowledge of art history or limited access to physical galleries. It also serves as an educational tool, offering resources for teachers to incorporate art history and visual culture into secondary school curricula.
To discover this digital exhibition and explore the works on display, you can visit the official website at the following address: Goya & Africa represents a bridge between two artistic worlds, illustrating how art can transcend temporal and geographical barriers to address universal and timeless themes.
For more information : https://www.goyaandafrica.org/
