Exploring Geographies of Imagination with Olani Ewunnet

Artistic expression has the power to influence the society by changing opinions, initiating dialogues and translating experiences across space and time. Artist Olani Ewunnet projected these ideas throughout her talk, Geographies of Imagination, at Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, recently. The talk was organised by Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, in association with the Samdani Art Foundation (SAF) and SAVVY Contemporary, Berlin, as a prologue to the upcoming Dhaka Art Summit.

 Ruxmini, the moderator of the talk, introduced DisOthering: Beyond Afropolitan and Other Labels, an initiative by SAVVY Contemporary, which is quite apt for Dhaka right now. Located in the African quarter of Wedding in Berlin, the art space engages in its neighborhood’s history and socio-political realities, which are entangled with the reflections and discourses of DisOthering: Beyond Afropolitan and Other Labels. Geographies of Imagination is an ongoing research project of this initiative. An essential part of the research project is a timeline on cartographic power, which was first rooted in SAVVY Contemporary’s locality in Berlin, the place that hosted the 1884 Congo Conference. During the event, Olani discussed her work with SAVVY Contemporary, focusing on Geographies of Imagination.

“Since we are located in a space which has colonial construction and history, the concept of the project began essentially in response to the construction of otherness. It is a long-term trajectory in response to our neighbourhood,” explained Olani.

For Dhaka Art Summit 2020, this cartographic timeline will be further developed and activated, taking Dhaka itself as a starting and dialogical pivot from which to draw new lines and connections. Olani, an urban designer, researcher, and sound artist, came to Dhaka to explain her project and see if it resonates with the local people. “When you enter any space you have to be mindful of the reality of your peers and their histories and how that might manifest in the interpersonal relations,” she says.  “The main idea of Savvy Contemporary is the deconstruction of the west and the non-west. In this context, the most important factor for me is to listen and be open to ideas of people and understand how they think.”

Olani gathered important insights about the notion of ‘dis-othering’ from the audience. Artists and practitioners from different sectors attended the session. “One day in Dhaka is worth a month’s work in Berlin. It is very exciting to see how people from all walks of life come to experience the Dhaka Art Summit. I have seen the photographs and visited the location,” says Olani. “The opportunity to have thousands of people reflect on the work we have dedicated our time to in Berlin and to connect it to their stories and understand their ideas will be special and beautiful.”