Sammy Baloji: Echoes of history, shadows of progress

From April 3 to November 2, the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) in Athens presents Echoes of History, Shadows of Progress, the first solo exhibition in Greece by internationally acclaimed artist Sammy Baloji.

Born in 1978 in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and currently based between his hometown and Brussels, Baloji is known for his powerful explorations of colonial legacies and the socio-political landscape of contemporary Africa. His work combines photography, video and installation to interrogate how historical narratives and systems of power continue to shape the present.

The exhibition brings together key works from the past 12 years, alongside Meandering (2025), a new piece commissioned and produced by EMST. Through layered imagery and evocative juxtapositions, Baloji examines the contradictions within the Congo’s post-colonial identity and wider global structures of exploitation and progress.

Echoes of History, Shadows of Progress is an invitation to reflect on memory, history and resistance – and how contemporary art can illuminate unseen connections between past and present.

More information on the artist can be found here.

Source: National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) Official Website

Ticket Details

• National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) working hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 09:00 - 19:00.

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**Please refer to the official website/organisers for possible changes to the times and dates of the event.**