Thyssen continues with postcolonial societies with ‘Pumpkin Nebula’, by the “afro-cyberfeminist” Rezaire

He Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum and the Fundación TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary They presented this Monday the exhibition ‘Pumpkin Nebula’, the artist’s first individual exhibition Tabita Rezaire in Spain, described by the institution as an “afrocyberfeminist, activist and multidisciplinary” artist.

According to the gallery, the exhibition continues the line developed by the museum around postcolonial societies, and includes an immersive exhibition, curated by Chus Martínez, which brings together three installations made in 2024: Omo Elu, Des/astres and OMI: Yemoja Temple , the first, commissioned by the Lagos Biennial (Nigeria) and the following, co-produced by TBA21 together with the Fondation Louis Vuitton (Paris) and Schering Stiftung (Berlin), respectively.

Two of them are also dedicated to the orisha Yemoja, the main spirit of the African Yoruba religion, who is considered the mother of rivers and oceans, a symbol of the origin and perpetuity of life.

“My work in general, and this work in particular, revolves around the infinite and circular cycle of life,” the artist explained at a press conference.. Rezaire has defined herself as a daughter of water and “like a stream that wanders and tries to merge again with the ocean.”

According to Chus Martínez, Rezaire turns his gaze to myths, knowledge and cognitive practices of “non-Western cultures”, which have often been erased by the “colonial power, and its way of structuring the extraction of natural, physical and mental resources from the territories”.

The exhibition interweaves indigenous knowledge and modern science. The pieces immerse the visitor in a deep exploration of aquatic ecosystems and indigenous worldviews, while stimulating critical thinking about current environmental realities and challenges and inviting reflection on the interaction between different systems of thought and beliefs around to agriculture, health and well-being, science, economics and politics.

“A call to reconnect with the environment and recognize the contribution of non-Western cultures in the search for solutions to the ecological crisis“, details the Thyssen Museum.

PUBLIC PROGRAM

‘Pumpkin Nebula’ It has a public program of free activities that includes talks, meetings and workshops designed to give visitors the opportunity to connect with the skies, bodies of water and ancient traditions.

Among them, it is worth highlighting the conversation between the artist Maria Arnal and the computer expert Fernando Cucchietti about art and technology, which will take place on December 10 in the assembly hall of the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum.

The program includes activities for children, such as the Create your own constellation workshop, which will take place once a month at the Royal Observatory of Madrid, and workshops, visits and conversations for young audiences both at the exhibition and at the Royal Observatory, on the occasion of Science Week.

In addition, thematic guided tours will be carried out around alternative spiritualities, astrophysical explorations or decolonial narratives, led by La Parcería and Madrid Negro. This public program is supported by the Institut Français of Spain, the Royal Observatory of Madrid, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC). It is carried out in collaboration with EducaThyssen and Organismo. Art in applied critical ecologies.