From Bayreuth to Burkina Faso: Christoph Schlingensief's Opera Village Africa as Postcolonial Gesamtkunstwerk?

Opera Village is a participatory art experiment by Christoph Schlingensief that explores Richard Wagner's notion of the Gesamtkunstwerk through transposing it to Burkina Faso. It aims to disrupt the Eurocentric perspective on art history and address German colonial history from the perspective of multidirectional memory cultures.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Leuven University Press

Opera Village, a groundbreaking art experiment by the late German multimedia artist Christoph Schlingensief, takes on a profound exploration of Richard Wagner's concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk. In her insightful analysis, Sarah Hegenbart delves into the trajectory from Wagner's introduction of this holistic artistic vision in Bayreuth to Schlingensief's audacious endeavor to infuse it with renewed significance by transplanting it to the West African nation of Burkina Faso. Collaborating with the renowned architect Francis Kere, Schlingensief crafted Opera Village as a testament to his artistic practice, encompassing themes such as confronting the German past, addressing anti-Semitism, delving into critical race theory, and grappling with issues of postcolonial self-criticism.

This final project of Schlingensief serves as a captivating synthesis of his diverse artistic interests, shedding light on the profound themes that shaped his creative journey. From Bayreuth to Burkina Faso introduces the concept of the postcolonial Gesamtkunstwerk, challenging the Eurocentric narrative of art history. It delves into the potential impact of a postcolonial Gesamtkunstwerk on processes of transcultural identity construction, unveiling how Schlingensief translocated the Wagnerian concept to Burkina Faso to engage with German colonial history from a multidirectional memory culture perspective.

Opera Village stands as a testament to Schlingensief's unwavering commitment to artistic exploration and his bold vision to challenge established narratives. Through this participatory art experiment, he invites viewers to engage with the complexities of history, culture, and identity, fostering a deeper understanding of our shared human experience.

Weight: 446g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789462703582