Project a Black Planet review: spits out dreary academic theory where it should sing

The Barbican's "Project a Black Planet" exhibition, focusing on Panafrica in art and culture, has been reviewed as overly theoretical, overshadowing its artworks with academic discourse. The exhibition features paintings by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, who creates fictional characters depicted in contemporary settings, alongside sombre portraits of idealized African elders. These works together aim to explore the diaspora experience and the connection of contemporary individuals to their African heritage, echoing the existential questions posed by poet Aimé Césaire regarding identity in a 'white world'. The review suggests that while Yiadom-Boakye's paintings are compelling, the exhibition's theoretical framework detracts from their impact, presenting a "dreary academic theory" where more engaging artistic expression was expected. The exhibition is located at the Barbican in London.