John Akomfrah in conversation at MFA Boston, 21 November

18 November 2024

Book tickets via MFA Boston

On Thursday 21 November, John Akomfrah will be in conversation at MFA Boston, as part of the three-channel film installation Vertigo Sea (2015) on view in 'Deep Waters: Four Artists and the Sea.' The film explores humanity’s tumultuous relationship with the sea and its creatures, and the ocean’s role in the history of slavery. Hear from Akomfrah about his life and work, which is often characterized by investigations into memory, post-colonialism, temporality, and aesthetics, and often explore the experiences of migrant diasporas globally.

'Deep Waters: Four Artists and the Sea' invites visitors to consider and reflect on the conversation between these works of art and their makers. Each artist offers a unique perspective drawn from their lived experience, yet all are attuned to the poetics and histories of the sea—from its glittering surfaces and unfathomable depths to its inhabitants and ghosts; from it as a site of memory, mourning, and fragility to a symbol of resilience and possible futures.

Thursday 21 November, 7–8pm
Harry and Mildred Remis Auditorium (Auditorium 161)

Find out more via MFA Boston.

Image: 'John Akomfrah: Listening All Night to the Rain' commissioned by the British Council for the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, 2024. © Smoking Dogs Films, Courtesy Lisson Gallery. Photography by Jack Hems.