contemporary makers: an interview with Amani Abeid
Feb 2019
An interview with Tanzanian painter Amani Abeid
For his recent solo exhibition at Alliance Francaise Dar es Salaam, Abeid was inspired by a 1973 book on Tanzanian tools and weapons called “Contemporary Makers”. He says “the title inspired me to think from a creative perspective and consider the context and roles of African ‘contemporary makers’ in determining the prosperity of the continent. In my works of art, contemporary makers are explored by their occupations and roles in the political, economic, religious, technological, environmental and cultural arenas. I use metaphorical visual language articulated with beauty, a sense of humour, and detailed patterns, all of which emerge from the background to form the central subject: the questioning and challenging of their offer of social change”.
