Josephine Baker. Icon in Motion.

Almost 100 years after Josephine Baker's first performance in Berlin, this catalogue reflects on her unparalleled artistry in dance, her inspirational role as a resistance fighter and civil rights activist and her lasting influence on contemporary artists.

In 1925/26 Josephine Baker appeared for the first time with the Revue Nègre at the Nelson Theater on Kurfürstendamm Berlin. Reflecting on this upcoming centennial and therefore on the history of the 20th century, this publication honours Baker's artistry in dance, music, film, amongst other disciplines, and her inspirational role not only as an artist but also as a resistance fighter, civil rights activist, and transformative cultural figure. Contributions of contemporary artists visualize the lasting inspiration that the figure of Josephine Baker maintains to this day. The catalogue further reflects on the changed role of the African-American artist in our contemporary discourse and how we describe and collectively imagine historical and present-day persons/personae.

Text: Terri Simone Francis.