‘The Enduring Legacy of Colonialism: ’
Reflections on Fractured Memories and Shattered Silences
By Pratiti Shah
The layered realities of our postcolonial world reveal persistent echoes of the past, a phenomenon resonating across seemingly disparate histories.
This enduring impact is what the upcoming exhibition, "Fractured Memories, Shattered Silences," presented by TAAH at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in New York (May 8-11, 2025), seeks to explore.
One can't help but feel the subtle yet profound way colonial wounds continue to shape how we see ourselves and our cultures, a truth felt across the globe.
There's a seductive ease in believing that the shadows of colonial rule have receded entirely.
Yet, its influence subtly nudges us towards external validation, overshadowing the richness of our own cultural understanding.
This shared inheritance from colonial imposition has left its mark on how we collectively see ourselves, often leading to self-doubt, resentment, or an uncritical embrace of external ideologies.
As an Indian curator engaging with the powerful voices of African artists, one recognizes this shared navigation – balancing global dialogues with celebrating unique cultural narratives.
Moreover, as we navigate these complex cultural landscapes, it's striking to see how some attempts at acknowledgment can feel hollow.
This newfound tokenistic gestures of acceptance can feel somewhat late in the day, considering the initial act was to unfairly elevate the ideologies, judging the colonies' ways as inferior and creating the very inequalities one now seems to acknowledge.
The consequence is often a fragmented identity, a complex experience mirrored across postcolonial societies. We might celebrate external interpretations of our traditions while our own deep-rooted practices risk marginalization, evident across arts, literature, and sciences. The internalized notion of external superiority, a residue of colonial power, can lead to cultural unease.
Homi Bhabha's idea of "mimicry" comes to mind here – that space where the colonized subject is caught between adopting the colonizer's culture and trying to assert their own identity. You see this ambivalence in how we sometimes celebrate Western takes on our traditions while our own cultural practices get pushed to the background, a phenomenon playing out across various fields. It's like we've absorbed this notion that Western approaches are somehow inherently better, leading to a persistent feeling of being less than.
Informed by Huyssen's "Present Pasts" (2003) and LaCapra's "Writing History, Writing Trauma" (2001), the curatorial concept considers layered histories and the politics of memory.
The exhibition invites contemplation on the intricate link between memory, identity, and cultural heritage within the African diaspora.
"Fractured Memories, Shattered Silences" invites engagement with African diasporic postmemories.
Featuring artists reconstructing erased identities, reimagining autonomy, probing Black identity, and exploring power/heritage, the exhibition provides a vital platform for reflection and dialogue.
Bringing together these distinct artistic perspectives, "Fractured Memories, Shattered Silences" promises to be a thought-provoking and visually compelling experience at 1-54. It hopes to foster a deeper understanding of the enduring impact of the African diaspora while subtly hinting at those shared threads of postcolonial experience.
Ultimately, through these artistic conversations, we might find pathways towards healing the fractures of the past and nurturing more inclusive understandings of who we are.
