Marvelous Realism, the first and largest exhibition of African photography in Asia, opened on Aug 30 at Fotografiska in Shanghai.

Curated by Ghanaian-British writer Ekow Eshun and co-presented by Fotografiska and the KT Wong Foundation, the exhibition brings together 16 established and emerging artists using photography and film as a means to envisage contemporary African cultural identity as a state of ongoing possibility.

According to Eshun, Africa has long been closely associated with famine and poverty owing to the portrayal of Western news and documentaries, which has created the stereotype of the continent. However, the continent brims with vitality and imagination through the lens of African artists and artists of African descent. Some works featured at Marvelous Realism are specific to Africa, whereas others respond to universal questions that can resonate with a global audience.