In 2014 the program Avant-Noir was first organised on the occasion of the Artist’s Film Biennial at Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. It was conceived to celebrate the work of artists active in this new century who are struggling for a new value and a new perspective placed on the black image in film and video art. These essential films and videos and the artists who created them are in some cases woefully underseen, in other cases known but not celebrated nearly enough. For this reason it became important to expand and travel the program, and Avant-Noir has since been presented in three successive volumes at ICA London, also being presented at Kino Tuškanac in Zagreb (Croatia) and IU Cinema in Bloomington (United States). This Brussels screening at BOZAR is both a compilation and extension of the Avant-Noir project.
Avant-Noir platforms contemporary film and video work by African and Transatlantic African artists, also presenting other artists who are concerned with visual representations of black culture in its various complex forms. Featuring work by Ayo Akingbade, Edgar Arceneaux, Ephraim Asili, Simon Gush, Marcel Odenbach, Cauleen Smith, Martine Syms, Friedl vom Gröller.
February 15th, 19hAvant-Noir #1In the presence of Greg De Cuir Jr. & Ephraim Asili- Many Thousands Gone - Ephraim Asili (US, 2015, video, colour, 9')- Tower XYZ - Ayo Akingdabe (GB, 2016, video, colour, sound, 3')- Iseeyou - Simon Gush (South Africa, 2013, video, B&W, sound, 14')- 27.12.2013 St. Louise Senegal - Friedl vom Gröller (Austria, 2014, film transferred to digital, B&W, silent, 3')- Foundering and Can't Swim - Marcel Odenbach (Germany, 2011, video, colour, sound, 8')
February 15th, 21hAvant-Noir #2In the presence of Greg De Cuir Jr.- Natural Born Gambler - Bert Wiliams (US, 1916, film transferred to digital, B&W, 23')- Until, Until, Until - Edgar Arceneaux (US, 2017-2018, video, colour, sound ,50')