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Barbara Chase-Riboud on restitution of African treasures

Western art galleries and museums which refuse to return art works for fear they may be at risk are guilty of a “colonial attitude to art”, sculptor Barbara Chase-Riboud has told ±«Óătv News.

“Africa has made incredible progress in excavating their own history and celebrating it,” the US artist and writer told the ±«Óătv Hardtalk programme’s Zeinab Badawi.

While “certain works are universal and belong to humanity, not to Africa or to Europe or anybody else,” she said, “basically, I’m for restitution.”

A 2018 French government report found that 90% of African treasures, artefacts and works of art are held outside of the continent.

Barbara Chase-Riboud currently has an exhibition at London’s Serpentine Galleries.

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HARDtalkBarbara Chase-Riboud - artist and writer

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