'John Akomfrah: Future Histories' at Seattle Art Museum
2 March 2020
From 5 March, the galleries at Seattle Art Museum are transformed into screening rooms for 'John Akomfrah: Future Histories'. The solo exhibition brings together three examples of his video essays – The Last Angel of History (1995), Vertigo Sea (2015) and Tropikos (2016) – that convey a provocative vision of the past, present, and future, combining stunning scenery, archival footage, literary texts, and original interviews.The elaborate staging of Tropikos (36 min) conveys encounters between the British and people from Africa in the 16th century before the slave trade began. Vertigo Sea (48 min) presents three screens to lyrically explore the sea’s incomprehensible grandeur in our current moment on the verge of climate crisis. The Last Angel of History (45 min) follows a data thief’s voyage to find the keys to the future by listening to artists and explorers.
The exhibition is on view until 3 May. Find further information on the SAM website.
Film courtesy Seattle Art Museum