Image: Two Reclining Women, Zandile Tshabalala (2020)
Southnord x Liljevalchs Konsthall
This October, Liljevalchs will open the doors to When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, a landmark exhibition celebrating 100 years of Black portraiture. Southnord is proud to be programming a series of activations alongside this extraordinary show, bringing new perspectives and dialogues to Stockholm.
Curated by Koyo Kouoh and Tandazani Dhlakama, When We See Us was first presented at Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town and has since toured to Basel and Brussels. The exhibition showcases works by both internationally renowned and lesser-known artists and celebrates the resilience, essence and political charge of Black joy. The exhibition’s arrival in Stockholm marks an important moment for Nordic audiences in general and Afro-Nordic audiences in particular, offering a self-authored glimpse into the everyday, the joy and revelry, the repose, sensuality, spirituality, triumph and the emancipation of Black existence.
Southnord has have invited a group of inspiring Afro-Swedes to activate the exhibition through guided tours and themed walkthroughs, sonic performances, readings for children, portrait workshops for youth and more throughout the period of the exhibition.
Date: 10 October 2025 - 30 August 2026
Venue:
Liljevalchs+
Falkenbergsgatan 3,
115 21 Stockholm
Programme Lineup
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Afro Swedish History Walk
9 October 2025
Southnord invites you to embark on an enriching and informative walk I slavhandelns fotspår (In the footsteps of the Slave Trade) ahead of the opening of When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting at Liljevalchs.
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Afro Nordic Blue
17 October 2025
Southnord presents the concert "Afro Nordic Blue" in collaboration with Liljevalchs as part of the program for the exhibition "When We See Us: A Century of Black Figurative Painting", internationally acclaimed as one of the most significant exhibitions of our time
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Women's Walk
26 October 2025
Join Marcia on an explorative walk-through of the exhibition “When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting” focusing on the women depicted in the exhibition. From those in repose, in revelry and in the everyday; Marcia is interested in women as emancipated, sensual and spiritual beings.
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Durational Perfomance with Freddy Houndekindo
8 & 9 November 2025
Southnord invites you to an immersive performance dubbed Becoming Tree, which unfolds monthly throughout the entire duration of When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting, at Liljevalchs. Rooted in dance and movement, the work turns the performer’s body into a vessel of rhythm, voice, and breath — where labor and recovery coexist in cycles of repetition and renewal.
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Children's Reading
Southnord invites you and your little ones to a book reading with child educator, Vera Nyblom. This is the first of a series of children and youth programs we have prepared as part of the When We See Us exhibition at Liljecvalchs. Vera will read various children's books by Afro Nordic authors for an audience aged 4-8.
