The Kunstmuseum Basel presents works by Carrie Mae Williams. The African-American photo and installation artist deals with the blind spots of American and European history in a way that is as gripping as it is subtle and humorous.

It is a baroque image of luxurious opulence and symbolism: a table with a heavy, folded tablecloth, covered with floral arrangements, with a jeweled cup, with cheese, bread and fruit; behind it sits a woman in fur, underneath she is wearing a trainer’s jacket.

This is already an irritating moment. In addition: the main actress in the scenery, staged in the Dutch Baroque style, is black; she is hip hop icon Marie J. Blige. It is as if one of the representatives of the victims of the exploitative “golden age” had taken on the role of the colonialists of that time.

This large format photograph is by artist Carrie Mae Weems. It is part of the exhibition with the sensible title “The Evidence of Things not Seen”.

Weems’ works and series of works tell gripping stories, partly supported by texts, about the history of violence against black people, exploitation, slavery and racism. Not far from the baroque scene you can see portraits of black people who had to live in poverty and without any social acceptance.

The photographs are garnished with ironic racist sayings, the reproduction of which is prohibited here. …