“Facing East: Chinese Urbanism in Africa”

Storefront for Art and Architecture

poster for “Facing East: Chinese Urbanism in Africa”
[Image: The Lekki Free Trade Zone in Nigeria, one of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) initiated by the Chinese in Africa. Photo by Go West Project.]

This event has ended.

China’s influence in Africa is growing quickly on many levels. All across the continent, Chinese companies are creating new highways, light rail systems, Special Economic Zones, and mass housing developments. Cities have received brand new skylines “made in China”: designed by Chinese architecture firms, financed by Chinese banks, and built by Chinese contractors. From foundational elements such as concrete, window frames, and fire extinguishers, to decorative ones such as carpets and curtains, many of the basic items used to construct these skylines have been sourced directly from China.

Facing East: Chinese Urbanism in Africa investigates the impact of Chinese development on fast-growing African cities. It is built around personal stories of individuals involved in the urbanization process, based on local interviews with over a hundred Chinese and African architects, politicians, entrepreneurs, journalists, students, developers, artists, and individuals who are involved in or touched by Africa’s rapid process of urbanization.

China’s influence in Africa often goes even further than what we perceive through the lens of the built environment. Facing East allows visitors to experience the fascinating consequences of shifts in geopolitical power from the perspectives of those living it. The visitor is forced to make associations between narratives, navigate existing and new relationships, and attempt to tie these together to comprehend the next chapter of globalization: one in which many African cities are beginning to face eastward.

Facing East is curated by journalist Michiel Hulshof (Tertium, Amsterdam) and architect Daan Roggeveen (MORE Architecture, Shanghai), based on their extensive research in six African cities. To read more about the curators and the exhibition, click here.

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Schedule

from June 17, 2015 to August 01, 2015

Opening Reception on 2015-06-16 from 19:00 to 21:00
Discussion with the Curators and Global Experts: 7 to 8 pm. Reception: 8 to 9 pm

Artist(s)

Daan Roggeveen

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