BRUSSELS.- Maruani Mercier is pleased to present Filling in the Pieces in Black, a group show curated by leading television broadcaster, author, and diversity advocate June Sarpong, OBE, featuring works by a range of international artists including Cornelius Annor, Larry Amponsah, Reginald Armstrong, Ofunne Azinge, Radcliffe Bailey, Kwame Akoto Bamfo, Kwesi Botchway, Samuel de Saboia, Godfried Donkor, Esiri Erheriene-Essi, Johnson Eziefula, Modupeola Fadugba, Marcel Gyan, Nicola Green, Lyle Ashton Harris, Yinka llori, Hassan lssah, Nate Lewis, Sthenjwa Luthuli, Alexis McGrigg, Mario Moore, Kaloki Nyamai, Joshua Oheneba-Takyi, Zak Ové, Patrick Quarm, Sheena Rose, Emmanuel Taku, Mickalene Thomas, Uthman Wahaab, WonderBuhle, Khari Turner, Lulama Wolf, and Kwaku Yaro, among others.

First opening at the gallery’s Brussels location, the exhibition will concurrently take place across the pond at London’s revered Saatchi Gallery featuring different artworks by the same participating artists that instigate an international dialogue. They say “History is Written by Victors” when it comes to the Black experience and the racism that often impacts it, the negative ramifications of this quote in relation to Colonialism and the Transatlantic slave trade have corrupted the full truth of Black history pre and post this deplorable era. Filling in the Pieces in Black aims to help redress this imbalance by bringing together a collection of some of the most talented artists of today, through the power of visual storytelling they Redefine the past, Refocus the present and Reshape the future.

The curator writes: “Our human story is rich and intersecting. Since the dawning of the colonial era, so much of the Black contribution to that story has been either omitted, distorted, or invalidated. Even the term “Black” to describe people of African descent is an exonym imposed by imperialists but due to the ubiquitous nature of the word, we have claimed it with pride for the purposes of this exhibition.

The complexity of the impact of colonisation has permeated every layer of the African Continent, meaning that ever since Africans has been on the move, whether forcibly or out of economic necessity. What is often overlooked is what happened when Black people arrived in often hostile, foreign lands. Despite political and economic structures positioning and maintaining them at the lowest strata within their new societies, they somehow managed to not only survive but also thrive, creating new identities and beautifully blended cultures.

The contribution of Black people to every corner of the globe cannot be overstated. Whether it’s the colour and vibrancy in Brazil, home to the largest Black population outside of Africa, or the contributions by world- renowned thinkers and activists in the United States who challenged racial and social injustices. Carribbeans, who have created a massive global cultural footprint through their cultural excellence, belies the geographic space they occupy. Those remaining in Africa birthed brand new nations during the 20th century, bringing an end to colonialism and literally putting themselves on the map.

As the daughter of proud Ghanaian, West African immigrants, my aim is to help present a representation of the many strands that make up the rich tapestry of the Black experience. This ensemble contains some of the most talented contemporary artists with a connection to the African Diaspora, many of which are connected to the Continent through their ancestry and heritage, and some by virtue of love and familial bonds. These incredible artists have lent their creativity to fill a gap where often key components are missing and need to be included. We aim to: fill in the vibrance, fill in the courage, fill in the dignity, fill in the sensuality, fill in the beauty, fill in the colour, fill in the love, fill in the strength, fill in the humanity, fill in the grace, fill in joy…In essence together as collaborators we are reassembling the incomplete puzzle of humanity’s story by Filling in the Pieces in Black.”

June Sarpong OBE has enjoyed a 20-year career, in which she has become one of the most recognisable faces of British television. June began her career at Kiss 100 and later became a presenter for MTV UK & Ireland. It was when she started on Channel 4’s T4 that she became a household name. In 2008 she hosted Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in front of 30,000 people in London’s Hyde Park. June has also interviewed and introduced some of the world’s biggest names including HRH Prince of Wales, Bill Clinton, Al Gore and George Clooney. She has worked extensively with HRH Prince Charles as an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, whilst campaigning for The One and Produce (RED). June was awarded an MBE in 2007 for her services to broadcasting and charity, making her one of the youngest people ever to receive the title. June was later awarded an OBE in the 2020 New Years’ Honours List. June is the co-founder of the WIE Network (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise) and is a regular panellist on Sky News’ weekly current affairs discussion show, The Pledge, and the author of three award-winning books: Diversify: Six Degrees of Integration, The Power of Women, and The Power of Privilege.

Filling in the Pieces in Black
Curated by June Sarpong OBE
October 25th, 2023 – January 13th, 2024: Avenue Louise 430, Brussels October 31 – November 26, 2023: Saatchi Gallery, London, UK

Saatchi Gallery, London
October 31st, 2023 – December 1st, 2023