Andrew Esiebo, Who are we (untitled series)
Support to Raw Material Company
On May 13, Senegal’s Raw Material Company was vandalized for hosting the exhibition Precarious Imaging: Visibility and Media Surrounding African Queerness, which is a part of the Dak’Art 2014 independent program. On the wake of the incident, which saw windows and lights broken by Islamic fundamentalists, the Senegalese government has officially banned all artistic manifestations addressing homosexuality-related issues. Under pressure and threats of violence from the religious community, in particular the Islamic group NGO Jamra, the institution was forced to terminate the exhibition.
Associação Cultural Videobrasil abhors any action contrary to freedom and artistic expression and extends its full support to Koyo Kouoh and the rest of the team at the Raw Material Company.
A petition to the Ministry of Culture of Senegal, launched by the CIMAM (Comité Internacional de Museos y Colecciones de Arte Moderno y Contemporáneo), looks to raise awareness, among the Senegalese government and society, of the importance of cultural institutions to freedom, respect and interchange. Click here to participate.