This special program, part of the Black Europe Film Festival, pairs two films that explore the representation of Black individuals in European art and culture. Looking at artwork featuring Black characters, Vanus Labor and We Were Here urge us to take notice of a longer history of Black presence in Europe. Directors Salad Hilowle and Fred Kuwornu will be in conversation following the screening.

Through these films, this program addresses the multifaceted relationship between historical memory, artistic representation, and cultural reclamation. Vanus Labor examines the overlooked presence of Black identity within Swedish art history, centering on evocative imagery and themes of visibility. We Were Here expands this exploration, uncovering the untold narratives of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe. The film reframes how their contributions and presence have been systematically (and intentionally) erased.

Together, these films provoke a critical conversation about the power of art—whether painting or film—to challenge dominant historical narratives, assert agency, and foster collective memory.

The accompanying panel discussion will weave together questions of historical erasure, the ethics of curation, and the intersections of personal and collective memory. By bringing together filmmakers, curators, and cultural programmers, the conversation will illuminate the shared responsibility of artists and institutions in preserving and amplifying these vital histories. Through this dialogue, we aim to inspire new ways of seeing and understanding the legacy of Black lives in European art and beyond.

Salad Hilowle was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. Hilowle moved to Gävle, Sweden, at the age of seven and is now based in Stockholm. An acclaimed multimedia artist, Hilowle explores historical narratives and the African diaspora’s influence on history and contemporary culture. Hilowle’s first major solo exhibition outside of Sweden is opening at the American Swedish Institute in June 2025.

Fred Kudjo Kuwornu is an Afro-Italian filmmaker, artist, and scholar based in New York. Known for his socially engaged work, Kuwornu examines identity and race by remixing historical and archival materials. His films have been showcased at the 60th Venice Art Biennale (2024), the Museum of the Moving Image (NY), the Library of Congress, and international film festivals.

This program is presented by the Black Europe Film Festival and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, with the support of the Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/Saint Paul and the American Swedish Institute.