Christine Meisner investigates the post-colonial history of Africa, and in fact looks for answers to the question of human responsibility for history. The Present was inspired by the book Heart of Darkness – the artist repeats the journey made by the author Joseph Conrad to the Congo during its colonization by Leopold II. In her exhibition and book, Meisner confronts the colonial history with the events that currently take place in the areas visited by Conrad and also in Belgium, which is strongly connected with this history, and with Warsaw, whose only link is the Conrad-Korzeniowski‘s early years in Poland.
This book was published as a result of Christine Meisner's four-month residency in 2006 and the exhibition at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art
