CGP London: Exhibition Thumbnails - Mémoire by Sammy Baloji

Mémoire by Sammy Baloji

2 Jun - 4 Jul 2010

CGP London are pleased to introduce the newly renovated Dilston Grove, a spectacular venue for large-scale presentations of contemporary art.

Having transformed this formerly derelict church in 1999, CGP London have secured it's long-term future through an £870,000 capital project that retains the unique raw qualities of the space.

Dilston Grove compliments CGP London's other venue Cafe Gallery - a purpose-built gallery located just a few minutes away - and expands the possibilities to present the work of a diverse range of emerging and established artists as part of an integrated exhibition, community and learning programme.

Dilston Grove's inaugural show, Mémoire by Sammy Baloji, is the first solo exhibition produced in partnership with Autograph ABP. Mémoire addresses colonial violence, shattered dreams of independence and the postcolonial political fallout that exists within the Democratic Republic of Congo. A beautifully crafted abstract video, Mémoire is shot in collaboration with the Congolese performance artist Faustin Linyekula. Also on display will be a new body of large-scale photographic work, specifically commissioned by Autograph ABP for the launch of Dilston Grove, which documents the exact site of Patrice Lumumba’s assassination in January 1961.

Sammy Baloji shines a powerful spotlight on contemporary Congolese reality, examining the abuse of power and its legacy and revealing the devastating impact that exploitative cultures have on both society and the environment. His video and photographic work calls for greater awareness of the local consequences of ‘development’ and highlights the rights of local people. Baloji aims to raise social consciousness in the region and beyond, as well as stimulate artistic development in the province of Katanga, long a focus for colonial and postcolonial regimes desperate to exploit the mineral wealth found there.