African Masters, New Art Series on The Africa Channel

The Africa Channel (Sky 209, Virgin 828) presents a unique and insightful view of contemporary African art, in its new series, African Masters. Audiences will go on a visually stunning journey across the globe, as the programme reveals the story behind the African art scene, through revealing interviews on location with world-renowned artists including El Anatsui, Yinka Shonibare and Yusuf Grillo and key players in the art world like André Magnin (French Curator and Art Dealer) and Bisi Silva (Curator at the Center for Contemporary Art in Lagos).

A six-part series, The Africa Channel shows how this vibrant art scene is emerging as a dynamic global force, visiting studios in Senegal, galleries in New York, artistic residencies in Nigeria and auction houses in London. Continuing the momentum of a surge in major exhibitions around the topic (like African Art, New York, the Avant-Garde, MOMA and Exploring Hidden Histories at the V&A, London), African Masters brings to television for the first time the in-depth and exciting story of this burgeoning Arts space.

Shot in a variety of locations, including Nigeria, Senegal, Benin, Kenya, South Africa, UK, USA and France, the series is accessible to both newcomers and art intellectuals. In episode 1, Revelations, curators from the V&A and the Metropolitan Museum in New York trace the historical journey of African art, revealing how artworks were often viewed through the prism of colonialism. Internationally renowned South African artist William Kentridge and Beninese artist Romuald Hazoumé discuss what it means to be an African artist.

The following episodes cover the studios of leading contemporary artists, introductions to emerging artists challenging the perception of African art and behind the scenes access to artists including El Anatsui, Ablade Glover, Soly Cissé, Sokari Douglas-Camp, Bruce Onabrakpeya and Mary Evans.

African Masters starts 4 June, 9pm every Tuesday.

Credits
1. Yinka Shonibare MBE, Wind Sculpture, 2013. Photo Jonty Wilde (2). Courtesy Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Stephen Friedman Gallery & James Cohan Gallery.