Roots and More

Overview

The exhibition “Roots and More” was curated by Wouter Welling, an art critic, writer, and curator, and funded by the Dutch Mondriaan Foundation and the provincial Gelderland Cultural Fund. The Afrika-Museum in Berg en Dal where it was launched has recently been completely expanded and revamped. This ambitious and costly operation was the final tour de force of Ineke Eisenburger, who retired in 2008 as director and was succeeded by Irene Hubner. The exhibition was planned as a farewell to Eisenburger, who was for decades the driving force of the museum with her commitment to displaying and acquiring contemporary and diasporic arts. Welling was appointed in 2004 as part-time curator of contemporary African art, a rather unusual position in continental Europe. In 2001 he had curated a similar show at the Afrika-Museum called Ad Fontes! [To the Sources!]. Both exhibitions explored ancient spiritual values in modern expressions.