Spring 2024

Turning to the East:

Intersecting Futures and Afro-Asian Connections in a Multipolar World

Amelie A. Wallace Gallery, SUNY Old Westbury

Curated by Dr. Reynaldo Anderson, Temple University

March 27 – May 2, 2024

Opening Reception: Wednesday, March 27, 4 – 7pm

Public Programs: Lecture by Dr. Jeehey Kim, Photography and Black Presence in Korea

                            and Japan: March 27, 2:40pm – 4pm (Campus Center F 114)

                             Dance Performances by Yes, I can Performing Arts Center: 4pm – 4:45pm

                             Lecture by Dr. Reynaldo Anderson & Panel Discussion: 4:45pm – 6pm

                             Music/Dance Performance by Fatima Logan-Alston: 6pm – 6:30pm

Participating Artists:

Kofi Bazzel-Smith, Alan Clark, Tim Fielder, Luiz Gustavo Nostalgia, Nina Hudson, Stacey Robinson, Zaika Santos, Shannon Theus, Fausto Vanim, Guilherme Xavier

Turning to the East is a bold exploration of Afrofuturism and Afro-Asian connections in a world becoming increasingly interconnected. The exhibition invites visitors into a metamodern dialogue that transcends geographical and cultural barriers. There will also be an online version of the exhibition organized by Zaika Dos Santos that showcases the talents of the Afro-Brazilian Black Speculative Arts Movement.

In this metamodern moment, we stand on the precipice of a new era, one that acknowledges the complexity of multiple realities while embracing the potential for radical change. As we navigate this changing landscape, these "Intersecting Futures" offers a space for contemplation and conversation. Drawing from a range of Afrofuturist and Afro-Asian perspectives, the exhibition serves as a vibrant tapestry of imaginations, aspirations, and realities.

Afrofuturism, with its potent blend of science fiction, magical realism, and African diaspora culture, offers a powerful lens through which we can interrogate the past, examine the present, and envision the future. This exhibition harnesses this potential, using the Afrofuturist aesthetic as a conduit to explore Afro-Asian connections in the multipolar world. The artists and creators represented in this exhibition utilize this aesthetic in innovative ways, converging and diverging in their expressions of a shared vision for the future.

The exhibition is organized thematically, with each section highlighting a different facet of Afro-Asian connections - from the shared histories and cultural exchanges to the common struggles against colonization and imperialism, and the collective envisioning of a future where power dynamics are radically shifted.

The politics section features that delve into the shared struggles and solidarities of the Afro-Asian world, while the anime and film sections present provocative narratives that challenge traditional representations and question stereotypical narratives.

"Intersecting Futures" is a celebration of the resilience and creativity of Afro-Asian communities. It is a call to action, a plea for unity, and a testament to the power of art to inspire change. As we stand at the crossroads of a multipolar world, this exhibition invites us to question, to dream, and to imagine a future that is not just possible but emerging before our very eyes.

Key words:

The Pacific Movement and politics of the Black Dragon society, South Asian and African American, Political solidarity, Asian political philosophy and African American Struggle, Afro Brazilian Anime, African American and Japanese Manga

Fall 2024

Christian Skjødt Hasselstrøm

Marisa Williamson