Unseen Art Scene (mirror)

Here is a picture of Chris in his studio in West London. Chris is a writer, curator and artist. He works at the British Museum and is the Curator of the African Rooms. I visited Chris last year at his studio and he spoke about his work and the influence the contemporary African art has had on his works. In 2008, Chris wrote the book Aganza Afrika, which is a comprehensive catalogue of some of the best contemporary African artists from across the globe. The most obvious influence is found in this work entitled, Atlantic Sounds It is all too clear to see how La Bouche du Roi, an installation piece by artist Romuald Hazoumé, influenced the work of Chris Spring. Chris explained just how extremely moved he was by the way in which Romuald simply highlighted the spirits being shipped across the Atlantic with small coloured fetishes. In response to having been a part of this powerful installation at the British Museum, Chris produced his own version with this work, "Atlantic Sounds".

Detail from La Bouche du Roi, an installation piece by artist Romuald Hazoumé in the shape of a slave ship. It's just been acquired by the British Museum and is on display in Room 35. Photography: Benedict Johnson. Courtesy of the British Museum. This work by Romuald has had a huge influence in the way in which, contemporary African art is viewed. It is clever, simple and hugely moving. Within the tightly packed boat, Romuald, originally from Benin, a country at the heart of the slave trade, reminds the audience that these slaves were individuals. They took with them the knowledge of Voodoo from Africa; suggesting the spirit is a powerful force and although these West Africans were dehumanized by their captures their individuality shone through via his/her spirit. The small coloured fetishes placed carefully on the cans highlights this. Romuald has a generous way of looking at what must have been such a frightening living hell for those taken from homelands. This work resonates and

Treasure: Kenyan poet Khadambi Asalache in the Lambeth house that he spent years decorating with wooden friezes and arts and crafts from around the world The House That's Pure Poetry Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent 19.01.09 AN elaborately-decorated treasure trove of a house in south London is to be saved for the nation. It was the home of Khadambi Asalache, a Kenyan poet, artist and writer who transformed his unassuming terrace home in Lambeth into a bohemian delight. When he died aged 71 two years ago, he left it to the National Trust. Now the trust is to embark on a campaign to raise up to £4million for renovations and future care and wants to know what Londoners think should be done with the property. Fiona Reynolds, the trust's director general, said: "Khadambi Asalache is relatively unknown in the UK. However, the influences in his life -- immigration, a sense of loss, and patriotism for both his old and new countries - are reflected in his art and writing and a

Please allow me to introduce you to one of the worlds most important artists, Néjib Belkhodja. Néjib died in 2007 but his work is very much alive. This painting has as much resonance today as it had in time of the first Iraqi War in 1991, Le ciel était rouge, 91. (The red sky). Najet, his charming wife, told me that whilst Néjib was painting this work he had a nightmare. He spent months trying to work out the right colour for the central space. He tried out numerous ideas and the nightmare was that if the central space was any other colour than purist white then the walls would crumble and fall. Néjib was a true humanitarian and through his art we can see one of the clearest visual voices ever. In this time of trouble over Iraq and the fighting in Gaza no other artist could have given the world a clearer or simple yet sensitive message. Nejib appears to be prophetic as it is now that this very purity, this pivotal piece, becomes the essential glue for ensuring that the structure of the