‘Bozar all over the P(a)lace - Nocturne June’

Enjoy a flamboyant evening at the last Bozar all over the P(a)lace of the season, developed around the exhibition When We See Us. At the heart of this late opening is the performance Black Indians by visual artist and choreographer Smaïl Kanouté, a parade inspired by the cultural heritage of New Orleans combining dance and music. Film screenings, a DJ set and guided tours round off the evening, which celebrates black joy through living traditions.

Performance: Black Indians by Smaïl Kanouté

Conceived and performed by Smaïl Kanouté with eight performers, this festive performance draws its inspiration from the artist’s encounter with the Yellow Pocahontas Hunters of New Orleans. These emblematic figures of the Black Indians perpetuate a century-old tradition celebrating the historic alliance between the Black and Amerindian communities. Through hypnotic movements, hybrid songs (mixing Creole, Amerindian languages and English) and spectacular costumes, Kanouté transforms this experience into a contemporary manifesto on cultural resilience.

Film: Black Indians (documentary)

The documentary film directed by Smaïl Kanouté tells the story of a captivating artistic work, immersing us in an ancestral Afro-American tradition and handing it down further to future generations.

Exhibitions: When We See Us and Familiar Strangers

The major exhibition When We See Us explores a century of pan-African figurative painting, particularly through the prism of black joy. With more than 150 works by 120 artists, it offers an original look at black self-representation, between resistance and celebration.

Familiar Strangers is a contemporary art exhibition that presents recent developments in Eastern Europe in the context of Poland.

+ Sofa Session #5​​​​​​​

The same evening, Bozar invites Sammy Baloji and Marie Umuhoza to take part in a discussion inspired by the exhibition When We See Us and to explore the theme of Triumph and Emancipation in relation to their artistic practices. This event requires a separate ticket from the late opening, but it’s perfectly possible to attend both!

DJ Set

A Brussels DJ collective will be providing the music for the evening.