Tshabalala, Zandile, Two Reclining Women, 2020, courtesy of Maduna Collection © Zandile Tshabalala Studio
Zeitz MOCAA

‘When We See Us’

7 Feb. →
17 Aug.'25

A Century of Black Figuration in Painting

How have artists from Africa and its vast diaspora depicted daily life over the past century? Koyo Kouoh, Executive Director and Chief Curator of Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, and her team have sought to answer this question with a landmark exhibition. Bozar proudly presents this vast kaleidoscope of Black figurative painting from the 1920s to the present day.  

Inspired by Ava DuVernay's series When They See Us, the exhibition title "When We See Us" reflects a fundamental perspective exploring Black self-representation and global Black subjectivities. The approximately 140 works by around 100 artists are grouped into six themes: "The Everyday”, "Joy & Revelry”, "Repose”, "Sensuality”, "Spirituality”, and "Triumph and Emancipation”.  

By focusing on these themes, the exhibition offers a rich, nuanced view of Black life and thought, emphasising the resilience, essence, and political charge of Black joy. It highlights relationships between artists and artworks across geographic, generational, and conceptual contexts, fostering a deeper understanding of a complex and underrepresented genealogy rooted in African and Black modernities. When We See Us encourages discussion on Black liberation and intellectual movements and celebrates experiences from Africa and the African diaspora contributing to the art historical canon.  

 

This exhibition is conceived and organised by Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) In Cape Town​​​​​​​.​​​​​​​

When We See Us is presented at Bozar ​​​​​​​under the Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen.

Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Cécile Fakhoury (C) Sabam2024

Courtesy of Jorge M. Pérez Collection, Miami

Courtesy the artist, Simões de Assis and Luce Gallery

Courtesy of Serge Tiroche and the Africa First Collection

Courtesy of Jorge M. Pérez Collection, Miami

Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Cécile Fakhoury (C) Sabam2024

Courtesy of Jorge M. Pérez Collection, Miami

Courtesy the artist, Simões de Assis and Luce Gallery

Courtesy of Serge Tiroche and the Africa First Collection

Courtesy of Jorge M. Pérez Collection, Miami

Practical information

Dates

Friday 7 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 8 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 9 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 11 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 12 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 13 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 14 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 15 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 16 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 18 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 19 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 20 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 21 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 22 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 23 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 25 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 26 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 27 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 28 February, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 1 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 2 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 4 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 5 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 6 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 7 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 8 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 9 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 11 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 12 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 13 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 14 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 15 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 16 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 18 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 19 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 20 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 21 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 22 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 23 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 25 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 26 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 27 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 28 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 29 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 30 March, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 1 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 2 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 3 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 4 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 5 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 6 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 8 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 9 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 10 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 11 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 12 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 13 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 15 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 16 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 17 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 18 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 19 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 20 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 22 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 23 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 24 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 25 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 26 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 27 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 29 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 30 April, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 1 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 2 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 3 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 4 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 6 May, 10:00 → 18:00

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Wednesday 21 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 22 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 23 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 24 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 25 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 27 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 28 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 29 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 30 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 31 May, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 1 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 3 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 4 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 5 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 6 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 7 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 8 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 10 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 11 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 12 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 13 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 14 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 15 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 17 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 18 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 19 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 20 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 21 June, 10:00 → 18:00

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Tuesday 24 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 25 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 26 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 27 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 28 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 29 June, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 1 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 2 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 3 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 4 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 5 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 6 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 8 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 9 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 10 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 11 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 12 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 13 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 15 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 16 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 17 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 18 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 19 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 20 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 22 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 23 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 24 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 25 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 26 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 27 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 29 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 30 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 31 July, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 1 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 2 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 3 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 5 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 6 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 7 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 8 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 9 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 10 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Tuesday 12 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Wednesday 13 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Thursday 14 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Friday 15 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Saturday 16 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Sunday 17 August, 10:00 → 18:00

Location

BOZAR/Centre for Fine Arts

Rue Ravenstein 23 1000 BRUSSELS

Watch ✕ Read ✕ Listen

See also

Chantal Akerman exhibition

Exhibitions

Partners and love light up the new season

Organised by

  • Zeitz MOCAA

Support