Lhola Amira’s “Facing the Future” is the artist’s first U.S. solo exhibition, comprised of new and recent works that they have created in response to the de Young Museum’s permanent collection of ancestor sculptures. Offering a sort of portal for spiritual connection and reflection, Amira has designed an accessible environment outfitted with elements like beaded curtains, ceremonial cleansing salt, candlelight, and song to invoke ancestral energies. Displayed alongside the artist’s 2018—2020’s single-channel video work, IRMANDADE: The Shape of Water in Pindorama, and ancestral artifacts from the collection, the presentation invites viewers to experience the importance of ancestral connections and relationships with previous generations in African art and culture.
On view from December 17, 2022—December 3, 2023, Amira’s presentation also marks the launch of Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco’s new contemporary African art program.
