The vestiges of colonialism

"The Present" was inspired by the impressions of Africa passed on by Polish writers Ryszard KapuĘciński (1932-2007) and Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), among others. In preparation for work on the exhibition, Meisner traveled through the same places in Europe and Africa which Conrad depicted in his novel Heart of Darkness over a hundred years ago.

"It is one of the most important works on colonization," Meisner stressed. She added that Conrad's perspective of the treatment of the Africans by the colonizers was highly unusual for those times.

Meisner's exhibition consists of a video installation, photographs and a series of drawings detailing her journeys. Her work leaves no doubt that the brutal colonization of the 19th century is a key factor in the misery experience by so much of Africa today.

Reconciliation, rather than recrimination, is the goal of the project. "The history of the Congo needs to be presented from the wide-angle perspective, so that the nation can build up its future and get rid of the harmful label as the 'Heart of Darkness,' as it is commonly described," Meisner said.