On 27 March the Museum of Cultures – Mudec opened its spaces with a monumental show: “Africa. The land of the spirits”. With its plurality of functions, the MUDEC seeks to become a reference point in the landscape of Italy for testimony, research and dissemination of the creativity and art of all continents. 

The exhibition, promoted by Municipality of Milan – Culture and 24 ORE Cultura – Gruppo 24 Ore, is curated by Ezio Bassani, Lorenz Homberger, Gigi Pezzoli and Claudia Zevi. With more than 200 items is offered a pathway of works of the cultural and religious tradition of the African continent that runs alongside the masterpieces known to western culture for their aesthetic value, explaining the symbolism and the importance in daily life of the people of darkest Africa. 

The exhibition is arranged into a sequence of 7 rooms, in a journey where African art is narrated under two different points of view, offering a new interpretation of African art to the world, based on what Walter Benjamin used to call ‘artwork’s aura’. The first two rooms show how African artworks influenced the European avant-gardes during the years.

The exhibition path shows the visitors the three African religious moments – like the cult of ancestors, and the sacrifices required to appease demons and divination. The last room is dedicated to masks, used to connect individuals with spirits, through dance.

Africa. The land of spirits

Mudec – Museum of Cultures, Milan

March 27 – August 30 2015

www.mudec.it