ZKM FilmIsle
Retrospective Arthur Jafa
Wed, July 21, 2021 7:00 pm – Fri, July 23, 2021 10:00 pm CEST
- Location
- Isle Hub on the Forecourt
- Language
- English
ZKM is showing a three-day retrospective of the renowned video artist and cinematographer Arthur Jafa.
As someone who experienced racial segregation in the US South, much of Arthur Jafa's work is dedicated to the reality of life for African Americans. For example, his video essay »Love is the Message, the Message is Death« (2017), which shows a collage of found images and video clips set to the song »Ultralight Beam« by Kanye West, depicting the experiences of black Americans throughout history. The video essay »The White Album«, which deals with whiteness and racism, won Jafa the Golden Lion for best artist at the 2019 Venice Biennale. In addition to documentaries and films, Jafa's cinematographic work also includes music videos by the likes of JAY-Z and Solange Knowles.
His films and videos have won numerous awards (such as the Sundance Film Festival's Best Cinematography Award for »Daughters of the Dust« (1991)) and are exhibited in renowned international cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Serpentine Gallery. In 2021, Jafa was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The three-day retrospective on the FilmIsle (ZKM Forecourt) includes music videos, films and documentaries in English-language original sound.