On Saturday, October 11, we proudly opened our new group exhibition Between Here and Now, organised in collaboration with ZAM Magazine at OpenArtExchange. This multidisciplinary exhibition showcases powerful works by contemporary African artists from both within and beyond the African diaspora.
The opening event began with a live “DJ Glitching” demo streamed directly from the Fak’ugesi Digital Innovation Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa. This was followed by a conversation exploring the themes of Glitching the Future, an interdisciplinary project by Bubblegumclub x ZAM Magazine that investigates the intersections of technology, culture, and resistance through an Afrofuturist and Black femme lens.
The discussion, led by Sean Fitzgerald (Executive Director of ZAM Magazine) and Phila Hillie (digital design professional), delved into our relationship with technology and how we can shape more inclusive digital spaces.
Adding a lyrical dimension to the afternoon, Julia-Beth Harris, a South African poet and creative writer currently based in the Netherlands, performed a live poetry reading. Harris’ work explores themes of migration and the search for belonging. For Between Here and Now, she created a unique text that acts as a guiding thread weaving the exhibited works together.
The afternoon concluded on a vibrant note with a live DJ set in the gallery.
Between Here and Now examines how contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora navigate and express their experiences in today’s world. The “Now” can speak to the current realities of migration and connectedness, but also to the ways in which history and the future echo within the present. Through a diverse range of media, the exhibition explores themes of identity, migration, community, and visions of the future.
Together, the artists’ works invite us to reflect on our own identities, experiences, and the futures we imagine.
The exhibition is on view until October 19, 2025, culminating in a special closing event.
We warmly invite you to visit and experience it for yourself!