As her new BBC series Africa Rising takes Afua Hirsch to Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa, we talk to her about the artists and art scenes she has encountered and what she has learned from her experiences.
Chorus of Soil by Binta Diaw (2023) at the Tobacco Warehouse for the Liverpool Biennial 2023 Photo: Louisa Buck
The latest edition of the Liverpool Biennial opened last weekend and has a South African curator, Khanyisile Mbongwa, and an IsiZulu title, uMoya: The Sacred Return of Lost Things. The art journalLouisa Buck’s contemporary art correspondent visited the biennale and reviews it for us.
Jean-Michel Basquiat valentine (1984), exhibited with Jeffrey Deitch at Art Basel Photo: Aimee Dawson
And it’s Art Basel this week, in its original location in Switzerland, this episode’s Work of the Week is therefore one of the most outstanding works for sale at the fair. valentine was painted by Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1984 and given to his girlfriend at the time, Paige Powell, on Valentine’s Day. Jeffrey Deitch, who sells the work at Art Basel, tells us his story.
• Africa Rising: Morocco is on the BBC iPlayer now. The Nigerian episode airs on BBC Two on June 20 at 9 p.m. for UK viewers and on BBC iPlayer, and South Africa airs on BBC Two on June 27 at 9 p.m. For those outside the UK, check your local listings
• Liverpool Biennial, uMoya: The Sacred Return of Lost Things, until September 17
• Art Basel, until June 18
• Jean-Michel Basquiat: the Paintings of Modena, Beyeler Foundation, Basel, until August 27
