African Films Explore Our Sense of Time

African Films Explore Our Sense of Time

Artist Rachel Rymont did not plan on spending part of her day inside a dark building when she visited Washington, D.C. But she changed her mind after taking one look at a new exhibit¹ at the world-famous Smithsonian Institution.

The exhibit can be seen at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art. It is called "Senses of Time: Video and Film-based Works² of Africa."

"Senses of Time" is a video and film show that explores how people experience time.

"It is a really different experience than being in a gallery or looking at a painting," said Rymont, who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. "It kind of forces you to step back and co-exist with the piece instead of just glancing at it."

Time is the main subject that connects all of the works, although the subject matter differs from work to work.

The exhibit includes Yinka Shonibare's work "Un Ballo in Maschera." It is based on Giuseppe Verdi's 1859 operatic work, “A Masked Ball.”

Shonibare’s piece questions the nature of time. In it, a leader, played by a woman, is killed. She then rises again and dances once more.

Moataz Nasr's film, “The Water,” is very different from Shonibare’s colorful work.

Nasr's film is in black and white. Faces appear in water on the ground, but before you, the viewer, can see any details, a foot steps on the image.

Art and Politics

Rachel Rymont liked how the exhibit was political, but did not try to teach about politics in an unwanted way.

"A lot of time with political work, there's a tendency for things to get a bit cold or didactic, but that didn't happen in there," she said. "All of it was very moving, and it was very human."

Perhaps the most openly political piece is Sammy Baloji's "Memoire.” It was filmed against a series of former copper³ mines in the Democratic⁴ Republic of Congo.

Choreographer⁵ and dancer Faustin Linyekula does a dance, while speeches from some of the country's earlier and current leaders play.

The piece shows how the reality of the present has not lived up to the promises of the past.

Linyekula expresses this idea in a heartbreaking way by shouting, "Vive l'independence" (Long live independence) to nothing but silence.

Other works tell of difficulties that political activists⁶ faced in the past.

For example, Sue⁷ Williamson's work, called "There's Something I Must Tell You", shows six South African women from the generation of former President Nelson Mandela. The women talk about their experiences to their young relatives.

In total, seven films are shown at the same time in the African art museum’s exhibit hall. The experience tests not only perceptions⁸ of time, but also ideas about what artists can accomplish with film.

Words in This Story

exhibit – n. an object or a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at

gallery – n. a room or building in which people look at paintings, sculptures, etc.

choreographer – n. a person who decides how a dancer or group of dancers will move during a performance

accomplish – v. to succeed in doing (something)

viewer – n. someone who sees or watches something

1 exhibit   

vt.展览，展出，陈列；n.展览品；陈列品

参考例句：

• Next week those goods will exhibit in that shop. 下个星期，这些货物将在那家商店展出。
• The economy continued to exhibit signs of decline in September.9月份，经济继续呈现出衰退的迹象。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

4 democratic   

adj.民主的；民主主义的，有民主精神的

参考例句：

• Their country has democratic government.他们国家实行民主政体。
• He has a democratic work-style.他作风民主。

5 choreographer   

n.编舞者

参考例句：

• She is a leading professional belly dancer, choreographer, and teacher. 她既是杰出的专业肚皮舞演员，也是舞蹈设计者和老师。 来自辞典例句
• It'stands aside, my choreographer of grace, and blesses each finger and toe. 它站在一旁，我优雅的舞蹈指导，并祝福每个指尖与脚尖。 来自互联网

6 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 sue   

vt.控告，起诉；vi.请求，追求，起诉

参考例句：

• If you don't pay me the money,I'll sue you.如果你不付给我钱，我就告你。
• The war criminals sue for peace.战犯求和。

8 perceptions   

感知（能力）( perception的名词复数 )； 觉察（力）； 认识； 观念

参考例句：

• Her perceptions and intuitions about human nature were fascinating. 她对人性的理解和感知引人入胜。
• There was no inside to Whitman's perceptions. 惠特曼的直觉里没有内涵。