G.A.S. Foundation Presents: Re:assemblages Symposium

The Guest Artists Space Foundation (G.A.S.), in partnership with the Yinka Shonibare Foundation (Y.S.F.), presents the Re:assemblages Symposium — a two-day convening dedicated to exploring African and Afro-diasporic art archives as living, contested, and future-shaping spaces. Taking place on 4–5 November 2025 at the Alliance Française de Lagos (Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi), the symposium forms part of a wider “Re:assemblages” programme running through 2025–26, designed to examine the evolving relationship between art, archives, and collective memory.

Re:assemblages Symposium Image

The symposium unfolds across four conceptual streams — Ecotones, The Living Archives, Annotations, and The Short Century. Each of these frameworks invites participants to consider how archives function as sites of transition and renewal. Ecotones examines border zones — geographic, conceptual, or ecological — as fertile grounds for dialogue. The Living Archives reimagines archives not as static repositories, but as dynamic, evolving practices that shape futures. Annotations draws attention to absences, silences, and margins within systems of knowledge, while The Short Century revisits the cultural and political legacies of Africa’s 20th century, reflecting on how they continue to inform contemporary art and thought.

Through panels, workshops, performances, and discussions, the symposium creates a multidisciplinary platform that encourages participants to rethink how African and Afro-diasporic archival practices might operate in more open, inclusive, and generative ways.

Who It’s For

The Re:assemblages Symposium is designed for artists, curators, writers, librarians, archivists, scholars, students, and anyone invested in the intersections of art, memory, and cultural history. By bridging creative and academic disciplines, the symposium encourages a re-evaluation of the archive — not merely as a record of the past but as a catalyst for future-making. It offers an environment where diverse voices can converge to discuss how knowledge is stored, shared, and transformed.

Venue and Logistics

The symposium will be held at the Alliance Française de Lagos (Mike Adenuga Centre, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi). Sessions run across two full days, from Tuesday, 4 November to Wednesday, 5 November 2025. While the event will be held in person, sessions will be recorded for archival and educational use. The venue offers partial accessibility for wheelchair users, and guests with specific access needs are encouraged to contact the organisers in advance for assistance.

How to Buy Tickets

Tickets for the symposium are available via Tix Africa. Several ticket categories are offered, including options for Nigerian nationals, African nationals, international participants, and students, with discounted rates available for those based in Nigeria and enrolled in educational institutions. After purchase, attendees will receive an email confirmation. International guests requiring visa support or invitation letters may request them from the organisers once tickets have been secured. Early registration is encouraged as spaces are limited.