The Art of Memory: Colonialism, History, and Gender in Contemporary Namibian Art

The UCL History Department is delighted to announce the official launch of a small exhibit of two contemporary Namibian artworks by Gift Uzera, Muningandu Hoveka, and Nicola Brandt, which is made possible by a generous loan by the Johannesburg- and London-based gallery Guns&Rain: “Wrapped”, 2022 and “New Dawn”, 2022.

The two artworks explore the successful grassroots campaign in 2022 to remove the apartheid-era monument to the colonial ‘founder’ of Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, the German conquistador Curt von François. At the same time, they remind us of the echoes of UCL’s relationship with southern Africa in the age of empire, particularly through the figure of Francis Galton, who developed his idea of eugenics following an expedition to what is now Namibia in 1850-52. The artworks thereby invite us to reflect on histories of settler colonialism and racism, persistent gender inequality, and the role of monuments in shaping how societies remember.

Join us for an evening of discussion as artists and scholars explore how visual and performative art may inspire historical reckonings as well as wider social change and political action. Multidisciplinary artists Gift Uzera, Muningandu Hoveka, Nicola Brandt (via Zoom), and Hildegard Titus will be joined by art historian Tamar Garb (UCL, Art History) and historians Wayne Dooling (SOAS, History) and Fabian Krautwald (UCL, History) to discuss the relationship between art, history, and memory in southern Africa and beyond.

The discussion will be followed by a reception where conversations can continue in a more informal environment.

The space is wheelchair accessible but not step-free. 

The event is free and open to the public, though advance booking is required. If you have questions or access needs, please contact f.krautwald@ucl.ac.uk.