MANIFEST EXHIBITION
AFTERIMAGES AND PERSPECTIVES OF COLONIAL ENSLAVEMENT
MANIFEST culminates in an exhibition showcasing the project’s final artworks in Nantes in September 2024. The exhibition aims to provide an innovative perspective on the history and legacies of the transatlantic trade of enslaved people, placing art at the heart of the evocation of memories and legacies. Through the works presented, MANIFEST’s twenty-two artists aspire to reconcile individual and collective memories and preserve them from oblivion by employing new technologies such as virtual reality, podcasts, video, and sound and image art to offer visitors a comprehensive, immersive experience. By associating these forms of distribution with the history of the transatlantic trade of enslaved people, MANIFEST aims to make artistic creation and historical storytelling accessible to as many viewers as possible.
WHEN?
19th of September – 6th of October 2024
FREE ENTRANCE
The exhibition and all the parallel activities and events will be free to anyone!
OPENING HOURS
Official Opening September 19th: 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Tuesday to Saturday: 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM Monday: Closed
GUIDED TOURS
Upon reservation (groups of 10 or more)
Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
SIDE EVENTS
Why in Nantes?
This project, and in particular the exhibition, takes its full force in Nantes, France’s leading trading port in the 18th century with 1,800 shipments, and which, since 30 years ago, has been carrying out history and remembrance work that is recognised in France and internationally. Many local actors and associations are involved in this work, especially Caribbean and African communities with whom we work since a long time. The aim of this work of remembrance is to acknowledge history, to confront it and to combat the societal legacies that are still very present in our European societies, such as racism and discrimination. During their presentation in Nantes, the works created will be fully engaged in the social debate. Nantes has a rich historical heritage still visible in the historical centre of the old buildings and in the Museum of the History of Nantes.
Who are the partners of the exhibition?
In addition to MANIFEST’s core partner group and the artists of MANIFEST, we are building meaningful collaborations with external stakeholders at local, national, and international levels to make the exhibition’s impact as wide as possible. We are grateful for the support of:
MANIFEST is more than just an exhibition; it encompasses a week of side events during the Nantes Digital Week! Join MANIFEST for the opportunity to meet the artists face-to-face, participate in guided tours, engage in discussions at our resource center, attend workshops, and enjoy movie screenings.
18. 9. 2024 WEDNESDAY
MANIFEST OPEN HOUSE WITH SCHOOLS
WHEN: 09:00 AM to 12:00 AM
WHERE: Espace 126 (Neighbourhood Center) of Saint-Herblain
EVENT DESCRIPTION: Several classes will come and meet some of the artists to learn about their artwork. Virtual reality demonstrations and video projections will be done.
The event is not open to public, only for partner schools.
WITH: Collectif On A Slamé Sur la Lune, David Gumbs, Gombo
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ARTISTIC DIALOGUES
Meeting The Artists Of MANIFEST
WHEN: 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM
WHERE: Neighbourhood Center of Dervallières
EVENT DESCRIPTION: Let’s come and discover the creative universe of the artists involved in the MANIFEST project during a convivial meeting at the Maison de Quartier Dervallières. Immerse yourself in digital art through virtual reality demonstrations and video projections. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply curious, this event offers a unique opportunity to exchange and discuss their creative process, their inspirations and their involvement in the MANIFEST project. You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the production of digital works and the articulation of history and memory through art and, more specifically, digital tools.
The event is open to public.
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20. 9. 2024 FRIDAY
FLASH-CONFERENCE
WHEN: 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM
WHERE: Espace Cosmopolis, Nantes
EVENT DESCRIPTION: Eight historians from Nantes and the MANIFEST will descript and comment, in 8 minutes, on images of their choice relating to the history and legacy of the transatlantic trade of enslaved people in Europe. It’s an opportunity to discuss the power of images and their role in our representations of history. The event also provides an opportunity to present the MANIFEST online resource center, accessible to all and enriched by contributions from some of these researchers. Through publications including notes, maps, documents and iconography, this center aims to offer a rich and varied perspective on the history of the trade of enslaved people and colonial enslavement.
The event is open to public and held in hybrid format.
SPEAKERS: Bernard Michon (France), Eric Schnakenbourg (France), Françoise Lejeune (France), Virginie Adane (France), Alan Rice (United Kingdom), Aurora Almada e Santos (Portugal), Zoltan Ginelli (Hungary) and Coralie de Souza Vernay (France).
LANGUAGES: English/French
21. 9. 2024 SATURDAY
GUIDED TOUR OF THE GALLERY
in the presence of the artists
WHEN: 9:30 AM to 12 AM & 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
WHERE: L’atelier
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WORKSHOP
Digital Nature: Connected Creole Garden Workshop by Magalie Mobetie
WHEN: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
WHERE: Jardins des Plantes
EVENT DESCRIPTION: This workshop, lead by Magalie Mobetie, is linked to the work of the artist, which explores the transmission of plant use in the French Caribbean. At the crossroads of digital technology and botany, the aim is to design an intelligent work that fuses interactive tools, especially augmented reality, with plant elements. This workshop is designed for plant lovers, technology enthusiasts and the curious!
Workshop duration: 4h00
SPEAKERS: Magalie Mobetie
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ROUND TABLE MANIFEST
an European artistic,
digital and historical project
WHEN: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
WHERE: Maison de l’Europe, Nantes
EVENT DESCRIPTION: As part of the MANIFEST exhibition in Nantes, artists, European partners and public and private stakeholders involved in the work of remembrance will meet to discuss the
possibilities offered by the digital arts in their work around the history of the trade of enslaved people and colonial enslavement. These exchanges will be followed by a privileged moment of discussion with the artists. Demonstrations will include virtual reality experiences and artistic performances, for total immersion in the MANIFEST universe.
SPEAKERS: Patricia Beauchamp Afadé, a representative of the City of Nantes, David Gumbs and Sylvaine Dampierre.
DISCUSSION: All the artists and the consortium of MANIFEST
22. 9. 2024 SUNDAY
GUIDED TOUR OF THE GALLERY
in the presence of the artists
WHEN: 9:30 AM to 12 AM & 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
WHERE: L’atelier
23. 9. 2024 MONDAY
WORKSHOP
European perspectives on the remembrance of trade of enslaved people and colonial enslavement: the role of artists, local
authorities and civil society
WHEN: 9:00 AM
WHERE: to be announced
EVENT DESCRIPTION: Alongside the MANIFEST artists, stakeholders from civil society, cultural institutions, local authorities, political decision-makers and interested individuals of the public, Les Anneaux de la Mémoire invite you to reflect on the future of remembrance work on the trade of enslaved people and colonial enslavement. This work, which began in Nantes thirty years ago, has seen new developments in recent years. Three thematic workshops will look more closely at the role of artists and civil society in this work of remembrance and the place of this history in the public space. They will also look at the most appropriate scale to adopt for this work: local, national or European. The workshops will continue in the afternoon with a tour of Nantes and of the Historical Museum of Nantes. The event is organized in partnership with the Foundation pour la Mémoire de l’Esclavage and the City of Nantes.
The event is suitable for professional audiences (students and professionals).
SPEAKERS: Alan Rice, Vânia Gala, Gaelle Choisne, Evalia Gomez, Gilda Gonfier, Zoltan Ginelli – more to be precised soon.
24. 9. 2024 TUESDAY
MOVIE PROJECTION
‘Paroles de Nègres’ of Sylvaine Dampierre
WHEN: 6:30 PM
WHERE: Espace Cosmopolis, Nantes
25. 9. 2024 WEDNESDAY
DISCUSSION WITH STUDENTS
Heritage, arts and digital technology:
new perspectives
WHEN: 02:00 PM
WHERE: Maison de l’Europe, Nantes
EVENT DESCRIPTION: This meeting with artists from the MANIFEST exhibition and professionals from Nantes’ cultural sector offers an opportunity to discuss the use of digital arts in mediation
activities around history, memory and heritage. How can we create digital works from historical materials (archives, archaeology, heritage, etc.)? What are the opportunities and limits of these
digital creations? What audiences do they reach? This meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss these new modes of mediation.
The event is suitable for professional audiences (students and professionals).
SPEAKERS: Fred Ebami, Albert Morisseau Leroy, Calvin Yug, Gombo, Cultural Mediator of Stéréolux, Cultural Mediator of the Historical Museum of Nantes
We are excited to update the list of associated partners in the coming months. If you want to partner with us, don’t hesitate to contact us.
MANIFEST Exhibition: Afterimages and Perspectives on Colonial Enslavement is part of
