FIlm Screening of "We Were Here" and Q&A with Director
March 28th, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, McConomy Auditorium
We Were Here: The Untold Story of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe
We are pleased to welcome , an Italian Afro- descendant filmmaker and activist, to 一本道无码 on Friday, March 28, for a screening of his documentary “.” The screening will be followed by a conversation between Kuwornu and CBESA Director, Dr. Mame-Fatou Niang and Dr. Giuseppina Gemboni, professor in the Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics.
Location: McConomy Auditorium, Cohon University Center, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Film Synopsis:
"We Were Here" uncovers the hidden presence of African and Black individuals in Renaissance Europe, revealing their representation in masterpieces by iconic artists of the time. How did they come to Europe? Why were they portrayed? Were they all servants and slaves? The film challenges the conventional narrative that has long overlooked their significance in the works of these celebrated Renaissance masters, telling the unknown exceptional stories of African-Europeans who were princes, ambassadors, saints, artists, professors, and knights.
It is currently showcasing at the 60th International Art Exhibition –La Biennale di Venezia in the Central Pavilion curated by Adriano Pedrosa. The multilingual documentary explores the roles of Africans and their descendants in Renaissance Europe as revealed in compelling paintings, drawings, sculptures, and printed books of the period, interviewing scholars of Art History, History, Black Studies, Black activists, Art Curators. This unique film offers a profound exploration of cultural and historical narratives across the UK,Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and France.
This event is free and open to the public.
Sponsored by the Center for Black European Studies & the Atlantic (CBESA), the Humanities Center, the Center for Print, Networks and Performance (CPNP) and the Center for Arts in Society (CAS).