Welcome to the ‘Shared History of the World Exhibition!
🗓 Dates: 16th November – 14th January
📍 Location: OBA Oosterdok – Public Library Amsterdam Oosterdok
🎟 Free Entry: The exhibition is open to the public and free to attend
Step into the electrifying world of Afrofuturism, where alternate realities and enchanting visions of the future await you. Our world is a place where new myths, sagas, and legends are constantly born and converge into powerful narratives and symbols. Afrofuturism weaves these threads together from the perspective of the Black diaspora, blending them with science, technology, and science fiction.
Journey into this universe where Afrofuturism and Black speculative arts from the Netherlands and beyond converge. Discover the unique work of around thirty artists from the Netherlands, the Caribbean, the United States, and Brazil, including AiRich, Melanin Kriss, People of Earth, Grace Stelk, Achi Chioma, and Cissy Joan, Zaika dos Santos, Tim Fielder, and Stacey Robinson.
These artists are inspired by the magical and mythical world of the Afrofuturistic story series ‘HIS STORY OF THE WORLD.’ Their works offer refreshing perspectives on both the past and the future.
Shared History of the World takes you on an unprecedented visual journey where art, culture, and technology are explored in spectacular ways. First Noble Institute, in collaboration with the Black Speculative Arts Movement the Netherlands (BSAM NL) and the international Black Speculative Arts Movement (BSAM), presents a dynamic collection of paintings, photography, video installations, spoken word, and digital art.
The exhibition offers a unique platform where Afrofuturism from the Netherlands and the rest of the world come together. A dialogue between the past and the future, united in the present, invites us to explore new horizons.
Shared History of the World, African Calendar,
Ptah & Auset Ankh Re. Photography: Josefien Hoekstra.
Stronger than supernovae
Climb aboard the escape capsule and leave behind Earth’s gravity. Nothing can stop the power of imagination. The fantastic imagery that Afrofuturism evokes travels faster than light, is more powerful than supernovae, and reaches beyond the limits of time.
Afrofuturism combines the immensely rich culture of the African diaspora with science fiction, technology, fantasy, and futuristic imagination. In the alchemy of these elements, new perspectives on the future are born, connected to the past and present of Black communities.
Quantum: Afrofuturism and the Seeds of Tomorrow
In this special exhibition, you will be introduced to the Dutch platform for Afrofuturistic art, the Black Speculative Arts Movement The Netherlands (BSAM NL). One of the major highlights of this exhibition is the digital showcase Quantum: Afrofuturism and the Seeds of Tomorrow from the international Black Speculative Arts Movement (BSAM). BSAM is a collective of writers, artists, and thinkers from over 14 different countries, exploring the future of African communities at the intersection of art, culture, technology, and politics.
Quantum: Afrofuturism and the Seeds of Tomorrow was curated by visionaries like Tim Fielder (USA) and Dr. Reynaldo Anderson (USA). This unique digital experience features works from leading Afrofuturists such as Tim Fielder, Stacey Robinson, and Alan St. Clark. They take you on an extraordinary journey through their imagination of the future and the African diaspora.
From mind to matter: First Noble Institute
Additionally, Shared History of the World offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation process of the First Noble Institute. From concept to execution, you will experience how the Afrofuturistic universe of the story series HIS STORY OF THE WORLD comes to life in both physical and digital forms. This is a rare opportunity to see how art, technology, and culture come together, shaping the future of Afro-Caribbean heritage and passing it on to the world.
Mark your calendars for the public program from December 4th to 8th! Experience a vibrant lineup of events including artist talks, an immersive VR experience, movie premieres, panel discussions, and much more. Don’t miss out on these exciting opportunities to engage with Afrofuturism and Black speculative arts. Check out our Public Program page!
With thanks to the Cultuurfonds, made possible in part by the J.C. de Boer-Voet Fund and the DNB Fund, The Cultural Participation Fund, het Vriendenloterij Fonds, the Municipality of The Hague, Blacks, Speculative Arts Movement Nederland, Black Speculative Arts Movement, Ankhcestory, OBA and Creative Industries Fund NL.
