Colonial Revenants

In my research, I analyze a selection of contemporary artworks that reflect on memory and oblivion concerning the German colonial past in Namibia, then German South West Africa (1884–1915). The selection includes primarily graphic, video and installation art by artists from Namibia and Germany. As I argue, the artworks do not address the colonial past as a period within Namibian history, but instead open up a space for the reflection of collective memory from the perspective of a post-colonial present.

For the interpretation, I am particularly interested in the artistic strategies and positionings presented in the artworks. According to my assumption, these artistic strategies are just as diverse as the forms of collective remembrance and oblivion when it comes to the shared German-Namibian colonial past.

I analyze and interpret artworks by the following artists: Petrus Amuthenu, Natasha Beukes, Nicola Brandt, Tim Huebschle, Inatu Indongo, Klaus Klinger, Philip Kojo Metz, Lok Kandjengo, Isabel Katjavivi, Hentie van der Merwe, Ndikung Moholi, Imke Rust, Christoph Schlingensief, Yinka Shonibare MBE and Andrew van Wyk.