Opening in Johannesburg on 21 February – 09 April, Lumières d’Afriques, will present 54 unique artworks, each created by an artist from a different African country, under the theme of ‘“The Light of Africa”.

An internationally renowned project by African Artists for Development (AAD), Lumières d’Afriques, was founded in 2015.  It is premised on the idea that the 21st century belongs to Africa, while also reflecting on the challenges facing the development of the continent. The exhibition has been touring globally for the past five years. 

Following the exhibition’s inauguration in Paris at the Théâtre National de Chaillot, the collection of works has been presented at the Donwahi Foundation for Contemporary Art in Côte d’Ivoire, the Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire in Senegal, the African Union’s headquarters in Ethiopia, the Palace of Nations in Switzerland, EUMESTAT in Germany and, most recently, in the Mohammed VI museum in Morocco. 

Standard Bank Gallery Manager and Curator, Dr Same Mdluli, says there is no better time than now for the South African leg of the exhibition.
“The power of such exhibitions is how they relate to their context in whatever shape, size or format, and across different geographical locales – especially in how they touch on critical socio-political and economic themes.
It was therefore the right time and the right place to host such an exhibition, given the kinds of poignant issues it highlights in relation to South Africa’s current challenges - 25 years into its democracy,” says Dr Mdluli.
Chairperson of the AAD, Gervanne Leridon, explains that since the inception of the touring Pan-African exhibition, it was clear that South Africa would be a destination. 

“Not only does South Africa boast a thriving art scene, but it is a long-standing leader in democratizing access to energy. We are especially proud to present Lumières d’Afriques, in Johannesburg thanks to the support of Standard Bank and its commitment to supporting African development,”.