As her new sequence for the BBC, Africa Rising, takes Afua Hirsch to Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa, we discuss to her concerning the artists and artwork scenes she encountered and what she took away from her experiences.
Binta Diaw’s Refrain of Soil (2023) on the Tobacco Warehouse for the Liverpool Biennial 2023 Picture: Louisa Buck
The Liverpool Biennial’s newest version opened final weekend and has a South African curator, Khanyisile Mbongwa, and an IsiZulu title, uMoya: The Sacred Return of Misplaced Issues. The Artwork Newspaper’s up to date artwork correspondent, Louisa Buck, visited the biennial and opinions it for us.
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Valentine (1984), on show with Jeffrey Deitch at Artwork Basel Picture: Aimee Dawson
And it’s Artwork Basel this week, in its unique Swiss location, so this episode’s Work of the Week is without doubt one of the most notable works on the market on the truthful. Valentine was painted by Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1984 and given to his then girlfriend, Paige Powell, on Valentine’s Day. Jeffrey Deitch, who’s promoting the work at Artwork Basel, tells us its story.
• Africa Rising: Morocco is on the BBC iPlayer now. The Nigeria episode is on BBC Two on 20 June at 9pm for UK viewers and on BBC iPlayer, and South Africa is broadcast on BBC Two at 27 June at 9pm. For these exterior the UK, test your native listings
• Liverpool Biennial, uMoya: The Sacred Return of Misplaced Issues, till 17 September
• Artwork Basel, till 18 June
• Jean-Michel Basquiat: the Modena Work, Beyeler Basis, Basel, till 27 August
