The jury called the exhibition 'topical and brave, brilliantly made and very important'.
"For us, this is of course the icing on the cake of this high-profile and topical exhibition in the MAS. And there were a record number of candidates for the awards this year, which makes it extra special. We are also very grateful for the many fascinating collaborations we were able to establish for this exhibition with Congolese partners, the diaspora and residents of Antwerp"
(Marieke van Bommel, director of the MAS)
In 2020, it was exactly one hundred years ago the Congolese collection of the city of Antwerp came into being, in all-out colonial times. 100 x Congo features one hundred highlights of this collection. What stories are hidden behind the objects? How did they end up here? What did they mean to Congolese peoples? And where lies the future of the collection?
The 100 cultural objects of different Congolese peoples are backed with a historical story about the relations between Europe and Africa and between Belgium and Congo, with special attention for the role of Antwerp.
For this exhibition the museum collaborates with Belgian and Congolese researchers, filmmakers and artists. The MAS engages in dialogue with Antwerp residents of Belgian and Congolese descent. With '100 x Congo', the MAS contributes to the current social debate about the origin of the collection, the colonisation, restitution and the image of Africans. The accompanying publication '100 x Congo. A century of Congolese art in Antwerp (ed. Els De Palmenaer)' was nominated for the Filaf Award earlier this year.
The exhibition can be seen in the MAS until 13.09.2021.
Concept and realisation:
Els De Palmenaer (curator of the Africa collection) and Nadia Nsayi (curator representation) in collaboration with the MAS team directed by Marieke van Bommel and all the colleagues of the city of Antwerp involved.
Scenography: Hendrik De Leeuw
