John Akomfrah at the Lisson Gallery

Lisson Gallery New York presents the first major exhibition in the United States by acclaimed British artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah. Akomfrah first came to attention in the 1980s as a founding member of the influential Black Audio Film Collective alongside the artists David Lawson and Lina Gopaul, with whom he still collaborates today. Known for his use of archival film footage, still photography and newsreel combined with new material, Akomfrah’s works are informed by their investigations into memory, post-colonialism, temporality and aesthetics and often explore the experience of the African diaspora in Europe and the United States. He recently garnered international acclaim at the 2015 Venice Biennale for his three-screen film installation Vertigo Sea, which uses the sea as a vehicle to comment on the cruelty of the whaling industry and the diasporic condition.

For his American debut, Akomfrah will present two film installations, first shown at Lisson Gallery London in January 2016, rich with historical reference and contemporary resonance. Characterised by beautifully composed imagery and immersive sound design, these recent films uniquely employ original footage rather than archival imagery.