African Artists at the Aichi Triennale 2025

The upcoming Aichi Triennale 2025, set from September 13 to November 30 in Japan, promises a reformative global dialogue on contemporary art. Under the evocative theme A Time Between Ashes and Roses—a nod to Adonis’s 1970 poem—the festival goes beyond mere traditional national narratives, inviting diverse perspectives that reimagine our connection to time, nature, and society. Among the 60 selected artists, a powerful contingent from Africa brings distinct voices and innovative practices to the international stage. Here’s a closer look at five remarkable African artists featured in this year's Triennale.

Aichi Triennale 2025

1. John Akomfrah

John Akomfrah, born in 1957 in Accra, Ghana, and now based in London, is a renowned filmmaker and artist. His work dives deep into themes of memory and the experiences of migrant communities. Akomfrah is celebrated for his layered explorations of post-colonialism, climate crisis, and diasporic experiences. His multi-channel films, such as those shown at the 2024 Venice Biennale and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, blend archival footage, nature imagery, and urgent narratives to confront themes of displacement and ecological fragility.

“Vertigo Sea” 2015 © Smoking Dogs Films; Courtesy of Smoking Dogs Films and Lisson Gallery.

As a founding member of the Black Audio Film Collective, Akomfrah blends archival footage with contemporary narratives, creating powerful visual experiences. At Aichi, his work will resonate with the Triennale’s theme, which invites reflection on humanity’s relationship with time and earth.

2. Hive Earth

   
   

Hive Earth, established in 2017 in Accra, Ghana, is a collaborative studio focused on sustainable design and construction through architecture and sculpture. They specialize in using locally sourced materials, particularly rammed earth, to create functional and artistic structures. With local and non-toxic materials, they craft structures that harmonize with nature while challenging industrial norms.

“Eta’Dan Wall for Sharjah Archietecture Triennal” 2023 © Sharjah Architectural Triennial

Their projects reflect a commitment to ecologically sound practices while celebrating the beauty of natural materials. At the Aichi Triennale, Hive Earth will lead a rammed earth project, inviting visitors to engage with the artistry of sustainable building techniques embodying the festival’s call for “geological views of time” over short-term environmental exploitation

3. Kamala Ibrahim Ishag

   
   

A pioneer of Sudan’s Khartoum School, Kamala Ibrahim Ishag’s bold, abstract works confront gender inequality and spiritual duality. Her paintings and drawings, infused with Sudanese Zar rituals and natural forms, challenge societal constraints on women’s autonomy.

“People in Crystal Cubes” 1984, Photo: Shanavas Jamaluddin, Courtesy of the Sharjah Art Foundation, Collection of Sharjah Art Foundation

Her art often features distorted figures that convey complex emotions and social commentary, and explores themes of spirituality and women's experiences. With a career spanning six decades, Ishag’s inclusion honors her legacy as a trailblazer—her work now part of MoMA’s collection and a recipient of the Prince Claus Award.

4. Wangechi Mutu

   
   

Kenyan artist Wangechi Mutu’s surreal collages and sculptures depict hybrid female figures navigating worlds of beauty and brutality. Her work critiques colonialism, gender norms, and environmental decay, as seen in her 2023 solo show at the New Museum.

“Sleeping Serpent” 2014, Courtesy of the Artist and Victoria Miro London

Her work invites viewers to reconsider notions of femininity and cultural identity. Recent exhibitions include shows at the New Museum and the Sharjah Biennial. At Aichi, Mutu’s fantastical yet critical visions will mirror the theme’s tension between “ashes” and “roses”—a reminder of both destruction and hope.

5. Faustin Linyekula

   
   

Faustin Linyekula, born in 1974 in Kisangani, Congo, is a versatile artist who uses dance, theater, and visual arts to tell compelling stories. A choreographer and founder of Congo’s Studios Kabako, a space dedicated to fostering artistic collaboration and training, Faustin Linyekula uses movement and storytelling to explore post-conflict healing and cultural identity. His performances, such as “My Body, My Archive,” blend personal and collective memory, often staged in spaces like the Tate Modern. Linyekula's work reflects the rich cultural heritage of his homeland and has been presented in venues worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

“My body, my archive” 2023, Photo: Sarah Imsand

These artists reflect the Triennale’s ethos of bridging continents and traditions. The festival, held every three years since 2010, has long championed diversity, and this edition’s African contributors exemplify its mission to “transcend genre boundaries”