World is Africa: Writings on Diaspora Art

World is Africa is a collection of critical texts by Eddie Chambers, focusing on contemporary artists and their practices from the African diaspora. The volume includes new pieces on the art world's fetishization of the 1980s, Frank Bowling's map paintings, and Charles White's record sleeve illustrations. It contributes to the emerging disciplines of black British art history, African diaspora studies, and African diaspora art history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 14 January 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

World is Africa is a groundbreaking collection of over 30 essential texts by Eddie Chambers, a renowned and influential figure in the field of African diaspora art history. Spanning a diverse range of formats, including book chapters, catalogue essays, and shorter texts, Chambers delves into the practices of contemporary artists affiliated with the African diaspora, hailing from various international locations. What sets this volume apart is its exclusive focus on contemporary artists, many of whom are overlooked or marginalized within the art world.

Unfortunately, none of the texts in this collection are available online, and they have only been accessible through their original publication. This limitation adds an air of exclusivity to the collection, making it a treasure trove for art enthusiasts and scholars alike.

The volume includes several new and thought-provoking pieces of writing, offering fresh perspectives on the art world's fascination with the 1980s. Chambers explores how this fetishization manifests as a reluctance to recognize Black British artists as legitimate individual practitioners, instead relegating them to exhibitions that occurred three decades ago. Another groundbreaking text re-examines the iconic "map paintings" of Frank Bowling, the Guyana-born artist who had a major retrospective at Tate Britain in 2019. The third text introduces the lesser-known record sleeve illustrations of Charles White, the American artist who was the subject of a major retrospective at major galleries across the US in 2018.

In addition to these new contributions, the volume also includes a critical reflection on the patronage extended by the Greater London Council to Black artists in London during the 1980s. This reflection sheds light on the challenges and barriers faced by these artists, highlighting the need for greater support and recognition in the art world.

World is Africa makes a significant contribution to the emerging disciplines of black British art history, African diaspora studies, and African diaspora art history. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, artists, and anyone interested in exploring the rich and diverse artistic expressions of the African diaspora. By highlighting the work of contemporary artists and providing insights into the historical context, this collection contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the African diaspora's artistic heritage and its ongoing impact on global art.

Weight: 578g
Dimension: 157 x 232 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350170131