Afro Mingei- A Project by Theaster Gates

Afro Mingei is a project by Theaster Gates that explores the intersection of Japanese and African American culture through food, drink, music, ceramic wares, and other works of art. It is being held at the Nasher Sculpture Center and invites people to experience this cultural exchange in a convivial gathering space.

The innovative menu combines the culinary traditions of Japan and the African American South, and other elements include a communal table and bar made of salvaged wood, neon sculptures, prints, and a vase for ikebana. Afro Mingei also features a DJ booth and a selection of 1,000 vinyl records from Gates' personal collection of soul and R&B music.

The term Afro Mingei, coined by Gates, connects the iconic black hairstyle of the 1960s and 1970s with the Japanese term mingei, which refers to humble objects of daily use made by unknown craftspeople. Through this project, Gates creates an environment of intimacy and cultural pluralism, rejecting traditional binaries of black and white and instead embracing his ongoing dialogue with Japanese philosophy and creative craft.

Host or Publisher Nasher Sculpture Garden