Art History (B.A.), Goethe University Frankfurt am Main; Social- and Cultural Anthropology (M.A.), Freie Universität Berlin; Current PhD Candidate at Freie Universität/ Leibniz Institut Moderner Orient (Professor Dr. Kai Kresse)

---

PhD Project

The dissertation project "recent debates on the idea of Negritude in Dakar's Contemporary Art: Appropriation and Demarcation Processes as an Artistic Strategy of a Decolonial Practice" (working title) takes a look at the current meanings of Negritude in the work of Senegalese artists. Developed from an initial research stay (Master's thesis, 2018/2019), the question of the contemporary field of action of Negritude, opens up substantial reflections on notions of art, culture, tradition and identity. The collaboration with Senegalese artists has shown how, in terms of the philosophy of Negritude, artistic work both refers to Senegalese culture and tradition and engages in a dialogue with other cultures of the world. Through a further research stay in Dakar and interviews with artists, emic perspectives on the contemporary role of Negritude will be gained. Notions of art and culture will be revealed against the backdrop of a colonial past and neocolonial present. The focus is on the artistic engagement with the Senghorian concept of Negritude and Civilisation de l' Universel and the question of whether Negritude still has an emancipatory strength under the changed conditions of the world's present.