Mashup the archive was a series of festivals, residencies and exhibitions which was dedicated to activating and making visible the extensive archive of African art that the Iwalewahaus has collected over the last 30 years. Working with young, Africa-based, artists-in-residence and a series of mini-festivals, the intention was to explore and investigate the rich cultural heritage of the archive.

At the heart of Mashup the Archive is the idea that a key to making the archive of the Iwalewahaus both relevant and accessible is to open it up for artistic, as well as academic, research. The Iwalewahaus has an important collection of African art, ranging from Nigerian horror films on VHS, original music recording from concerts held in the house in 1980s to graphic work from internationally acclaimed artists such as the Nsukka group. The essence of the project was not merely to exhibit this, but to make it available for a young generation of African artists to develop new works from.

This 'practice-based' artistic research is very different to, but works in tandem with, the academic research of the Iwalewahaus. It offers new perspective, positions and insights into artworks in the archive which the academic community of the house can then reflect on, and make sense with, in their discourse. This combination of artistic and academic enquiry is an agile and current approach to the study and display of African Art today.

Thanks to: Batida, Dj Raph, Otieno Gomba, Delio Jasse, Miss Eve, Nita., Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi, Simon Rittmeier, Kevo Stero, Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum, Uche Uzorka, Iwalewahaus Bayreuth (artists), Nadine Siegert (co-curator). Supported by: Kulturstiftung des Bundesfull project