Claude Bunny Massassa is a contemporary artist from Gabon. She created Bunny Studio in 2016, a start-up dedicated to photography production, which became DWABI Studio in 2021. As an artist, she has represented Gabon in many international exhibitions in Senegal, Uganda, France, the United States, and Italy. In her art, she denounces social stigmas around issues of identity and mental health, and explores themes of traditions and myths.
Executive Director Kimberly Aceves- Iñiguez has been passionately committed for over 20 years to social justice organizing and advocacy efforts that bring voice and power to youth, LGBTQ people, people of color, and working-class communities in the Bay Area. Before coming on as the Executive Director for RYSE, Kimberly served as the Executive Director for Youth Together, the founding organization of the RYSE Center.
Kanwarpal Dhaliwal is one of the co-founders of RYSE and currently acts as the Associate Director. She supports and guides the implementation and integration of healing-centered practices, grounded in racial justice and liberation, and also develops, promotes, and advocates for policies, investments, practices, and research that enliven healing, justice, and liberation. Kanwarpal believes that the purpose of her work and life is to contribute to movements, communities, and legacies of liberation that honor the ancestors who fought for her existence and survival, and to forge a world that is just and gentle for future generations.
Sagal Ali is the founder and executive director of SAF. After a few years in her career in heritage protection in the cultural sector, she decided to develop the initiative to directly support young creatives in Somalia by launching her own foundation. She hopes to bridge the social gaps and inequalities women face in Somalia, both in society and in the arts scene.
Co-founders Catherine Dunga and Marleen Palmaers created Kitambo to bridge the gap between the African diaspora in Colombia and the narratives from the continent. From Kinshasa and Antwerp respectively, they work to connect African artists from the continent and their peers from the Colombian diaspora.
Martha Kazungu is a curator, art Historian and Founder of Njabala Foundation, an organization that curates periodic exhibitions and organizes a public program of activities to create a safe space for female artists to thrive and blossom.
Alicia Hansen is a photographer and teacher from New York. She founded NYC SALT in 2008 and, beyond teaching valuable creative skills to her students, has developed a long-term support system to uplift them through school and into their early artistic careers.
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What we have done
The column has been coming out regularly twice a month since its launch in two languages: Italian and English. The range of authors who have contributed so far is truly wide, including such prominent names as Wole Soyinka, Achille Mbembe, Roberto Saviano, Simon Njami, Aida Muluneh and others alongside with our AtWork initiatives participants Gloria Kiconco (Kampala), Melania Fusco (Venice), Hanna Minyae (Addis Ababa), Tichakunda Mafundikwa (Harare) and many others. This horizontal approach to the editorial line reflects our philosophy of open culture and open knowledge circulation.
When suitable, we like to accompany the articles with images of contemporary African artists and the diaspora, in order to continue to showcase the vibrant creative talents on our platform. So far we have received generous permissions to publish the works of Sammy Baloji, Kudzanai Chiurai, Aida Muluneh, Wangechi Mutu, Ayana V. Jackson, Boriz Nzebo, Mwangi Hutter and many others.
Aida Muluneh, The 99 Series Part One, 2014. Per gentile concessione dell’artista
“All claims that Africa has been explored are as premature as news of her imminent demise.”
Wole Soyinka — Of Africa
Partnerships
In 2015 we started an editorial partnership with the platform Another Africa founded by Missla Liebsikal. We have re-published their series “Tracing Emerging Contemporary Art Practices” and “In/Visible Voices of Women”.
We have also established a media partnership with Art Africa, republishing and translating their selected pieces in Italian.
Areas of Intervention
Art and culture for social transformation
Aida Muluneh, The 99 Series Part One, 2014. Per gentile concessione dell'artista
Summary
Online platform:
doppiozero.com
Column curator:
Elena Korzhenevich
In partnership with:
Doppiozero
Colophon
Partners
Doppiozero
Another Africa
ArtAfrica
