15 January 2026

Last year, I had the opportunity to visit two museums that left a lasting impression on me: the MACAAL – Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden in Marrakech and the Museu de Arte do Rio in Rio de Janeiro.

In Marrakech, I visited the permanent exhibition “Decolonize – Contemporary African Art from Independence to the Present” at MACAAL. In Rio de Janeiro, I saw the Funk exhibition, which explored culture, everyday life and forms of expression within the favela.

Despite their very different locations and contexts, both exhibitions shared something essential: a clear intention to communicate history, spirituality, emotion and perspective. The works were powerful and convincing. Even without extensive prior knowledge, it was possible to understand the artworks and connect with them on a deep emotional level.

All of the artists achieved something remarkable: they created messages that convey far more than a thousand words ever could.

What is everyday life like in a favela in Rio de Janeiro? Who could speak about it more authentically than the people who live there? And who could translate these experiences more vividly and emotionally than artists who know these feelings first-hand and can express them through colour and form? The exhibited works told stories of resilience, beauty, pain and joy — without pity, but full of strength. An image no Western documentary could ever portray with the same authenticity.

Similar questions were raised by the exhibition in Marrakech: How does the African continent see itself? How do the many African cultures define their independence through art? How do they confront the atrocities of colonialism — and how do they view the West today? What emerged was an insight filled with colour and radiance, redefining the concept of richness.

Personally, I took a great deal from these two very different exhibitions and cultures. They reminded me how vital artistic struggle is — for artists themselves, but also for society as viewers. In shapes and colours lies a power that enables communication beyond language and national borders.

Creative Practice