THE TRUE SIZE OF AFRICA

512pp., 4to., b/w & colour illus., hardback, Hirmer Publishers, Munich, 2025

ISBN:‎ 9783777444741

Published in conjunction with the exhibition, World Heritage Site Völklinger Hütte, November 2024 - August 2025.

The continent of Africa from a variety of viewpoints; beyond prejudice and stereotypes, via cultural history and contemporary art. The history of humankind meets the colonial past and the omnipresence of aspects of Africa in many regions of the world.

Artists include William Kentridge, Zanele Muholi, Sammy Baloji, Omar Victor Diop and Yinka Shonibare.

 Contributions include:

"From Restitution to Social Infrastructure: Architecture for a global Africa" by Franck Hofmann

"African Art: Violence and reparation" by Souleymane Bachir Diagne

"After the End of African Art: Unruly notes on an elusive subject" by Till Föster

"How to Grasp Africa's Size: From Pan-Africanism to Afrofuturism" by Elara Bertho

"The Arts of Repair: On crises, resentment, and the power of creativity" by Markus Messling and Christiane Solte-Gresser.

Ralf Beil is General Director of the World Heritage Site Völklinger Hütte.

Markus Messling is Professor of Romance Literatures and Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies and Director of the Käte Hamburger Research Centre CURE at Saarland University.

Christiane Solte-Gresser is Professor of General and Comparative Literature and Director of the Käte Hamburger Research Centre CURE at Saarland University.