From its inception, Manifesta has made publications an integral part of the biennial process as a way to document different elements of each edition, from the pre-biennial process to an in-depth look into our diverse programmes.
Through these publications, we aim to foster dialogue, expand knowledge and create a lasting legacy for each biennial edition. From in-depth essays and insight from Manifesta’s director, creative mediators and a wide variety of stakeholders, to captivating visuals and behind-the-scenes glimpses, our publications provide a comprehensive exploration of the ideas and concepts explored during our biennial.
Arxius Negres: Fragments of an Anti-Colonial Metropolis
This publication, Black Archives, grew from the exhibition Arxius Negres: Fragments of an Anti-Colonial Metropolis, curated by Tania Safura Adam as part of Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitana 2024.
It is a testament to an eclectic repository of microhistories, documents, artworks and sound and film recordings, as well as to the books, comics, photographs, albums, videos and magazines exhibited in the former Gustavo Gili publishing house, one of the main venues for Manifesta 15. It also highlights the importance of experimentation, research and materiality in constructing a Black Archive in the metropolis of Barcelona, where black realities have historically been invisible subcultures, sidelined and relegated to the fringe.
In essence, this volume tells the origin story of a Black Archive in the Spanish context and seeks to demonstrate that its presence at Manifesta 15 has contributed to an interweaving of discourses and collective memories, uniting scattered fragments from across the political, associational, cultural and domestic spheres.
Edited by Tania Safura Adam
Texts by: Hedwig Fijen, Kathleen Ferrier, Tania Safura Adam
Graphic design: La Japonesa
Format:
224 pages
170 x 240 mm
Languages:
English: ISBN-978-84-09-72852-7
Catalan: ISBN-978-84-09-72853-4
Installation view of Arxius Negres: Fragments of an Anti-Colonial Metropolis. Photo © Manifesta Barcelona Metropolitana / Helena Roig
