Meschac Gaba
Benin | Installation
Museum of Contemporary African Art, an installation exploring the concept of the museum.
Exhibitions
Museum of Contemporary African Art
2002 - Various Locations (including Amsterdam and Kassel)
A conceptual art project that spanned several years and locations, culminating in a series of installations that critique the Western museum model and explore the presentation of African art.
Documenta 11
2002 - Kassel, Germany
Gaba's "Museum of Contemporary African Art" was a key part of this landmark exhibition, bringing critical attention to his work and its commentary on cultural representation and the art world.
Meschac Gaba: Museum of Contemporary African Art
2013 - Tate Modern, London, UK
A comprehensive exhibition of Gaba's conceptual project, showcasing its different sections, including the Architecture Room, Library, and Religion Room, questioning the role of museums in defining art and culture.
Blueprints
2015 - Kunsthaus Graz, Austria
A solo exhibition that explored the intersection of architecture, art, and urbanism, featuring Gaba's conceptual works that challenge traditional notions of space and identity.
Humanist Space
2009 - Art Institute of Chicago, USA
Part of a group exhibition that focused on the relationship between art and social change, with Gaba's work addressing the complexities of cultural identity and globalism.
Flow
2008 - The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, USA
Group exhibition featuring Gaba's works alongside other African artists, exploring contemporary African art and its place within global art narratives.
Museum of Contemporary African Art
2002 - Various locations, including Amsterdam, The Netherlands
A conceptual project and traveling exhibition that spanned five years, where Gaba created a fictional museum to challenge the traditional ways African art is presented in Western institutions. The project was presented in multiple locations, including the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
Documenta 11
2002 - Kassel, Germany
Gaba’s "Museum of Contemporary African Art" was featured at this prestigious international exhibition, bringing his critical approach to the global stage and emphasizing the need to rethink the representation of African art in the Western world.
Tresses
2004 - Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France
A solo exhibition where Gaba explored themes of identity, cultural exchange, and globalization through the use of wigs and hair as metaphors for cultural transformation and the blending of identities.
Meschac Gaba: Museum of Contemporary African Art - 1997-2002
2013 - Tate Modern, London, UK
A major retrospective that showcased Gaba’s conceptual project in its entirety. The exhibition was a critical reflection on the role of museums and the presentation of African art within global cultural institutions.
Afrika Remix: Contemporary Art of a Continent
2005 - Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Group exhibition that included Gaba’s work among other leading African artists, highlighting his unique approach to conceptual art and his critique of the art world’s treatment of African culture.
Hospitalité
2010 - Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel, Germany
A solo exhibition that continued Gaba’s exploration of cultural exchange and the representation of African identity in contemporary art. The exhibition featured installations that invited visitors to reconsider their perceptions of African art and culture.