Lusophone Artists Shine at Paris AKAA Art Fair 2024
Portuguese and Mozambican galleries are set to take center stage at the 11th edition of the AKAA (Also Known As Africa) contemporary art fair in Paris. Running from October 23 to 25 at the Carreau du Temple, the event highlights the growing influence of Lusophone artists on the global stage.
Lusophone Galleries and Global Perspectives
Representing Lisbon, the gallery This is not a White Cube will showcase the evocative works of Dutch artist Dagmar van Weeghel. Meanwhile, Maputo-based gallery Arte de Gema will present a diverse selection of paintings and photography by Mozambican artists Thandi Pinto and Mulaine.
Part of the broader Paris Art Week, this year’s AKAA fair features 42 galleries. While many are French, the event boasts a significant international presence with participants from Italy, Germany, Spain, Zimbabwe, and beyond. To celebrate the bicentenary of photography, the fair has introduced AKAA PHOTO, a dedicated space for lens-based media.
Amadeo Carvalho: Mapping Memory and Identity
A major highlight of the fair is the solo debut of London-based Cape Verdean artist Amadeo Carvalho. His exhibition, titled “Fragments d’identité — Circulations lusophones, géographies sensibles” (Fragments of Identity — Lusophone Circulations, Sensitive Geographies), marks the first public project by Casa Vicência, a Parisian platform specializing in contemporary art from Portuguese-speaking regions.
Carvalho’s installation features 50 previously unseen works from his “Retratos de Ausência” (Portraits of Absence) series, created between 2025 and 2026. The 16-square-meter space is designed as an immersive, continuous journey across four walls, inviting viewers to explore the intersections of matter and memory.
Volcanic Pigments and the Atlantic Diaspora
Carvalho’s artistic process is deeply rooted in his heritage. He utilizes volcanic pigments personally collected from the Cape Verdean islands of Fogo, Santiago, and São Vicente. By layering these raw materials, he builds a visual narrative that examines Lusophone movements and the Atlantic relationship between Africa, Europe, and the diaspora.
Born in São Vicente, Carvalho has built a robust international profile, recently participating in the FNB Art Joburg fair in South Africa and completing a residency at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in the United States. His work continues to serve as a vital link between the Cape Verdean experience and global conversations on identity.
A Hub for African Contemporary Art
Since its founding in 2016, AKAA has established itself as a premier annual meeting point for art and design focused on the African continent. By providing a platform for artists from Senegal, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, and the Lusophone world, the fair continues to reshape the narrative of contemporary art in the heart of Europe.
Image: Pexels – Bingqian Li
