Cover image: Africa Rising II at the Tuileries Garden
© Entrée to Black Paris

In the wake of her unprecedented eight-museum exhibition entitled Quand un nœud est dénoué, un dieu est libéré (Everytime A Knot is Undone, A God is Released), Barbara Chase-Riboud is enjoying yet another prestigious display of her work.

This time, it consists of the first public viewing of a single sculpture in one of the tree-lined green spaces at the Jardin des Tuileries in central Paris.

Africa Rising II is a new version of Chase-Riboud's original, monumental bronze sculpture entitled Africa Rising that was commissioned by the U.S. General Services Adminstration to commemorate the African Burial Ground in lower Manhattan.  Chase-Riboud received the commission in 1996; her sculpture was installed in the lobby of the Ted Weiss Federal Building in 1998.

Africa Rising (2007)
Lobby of Ted Weiss Federal Building
Carol M. Highsmith Archive
Library of Congress
Public Domain

Frontal view of Africa Rising (2007)
Lobby of Ted Weiss Federal Building
Carol M. Highsmith Archive
Library of Congress
Public Domain

Like its namesake, Africa Rising II is made of bronze. It is the lone sculpture in one of the patches of greenery that lie next to the Tuileries Garden's central alley. 

From the alley, you will see the enormous information panels on the grass.  In French and in English, they present information about the sculpture and an excerpt from Chase-Riboud's epic 1988 poem, "Africa Rising." 

Africa Rising II and information panels
© Entrée to Black Paris

Information panels - excerpt from "Africa Rising"
© Entrée to Black Paris

The best views of the sculpture are from the paths that intersect the central alley.

Africa Rising II - left lateral view
© Entrée to Black Paris

Africa Rising II - right lateral view
© Entrée to Black Paris

Walking and sitting on the grass are not allowed in this area, so you will need a telephoto lens to clearly see the details of the sculpture.

Africa Rising II - frontal view
© Entrée to Black Paris

Africa Rising II - rear view
© Entrée to Black Paris

Africa Rising II is smaller and less elaborate than the original sculpture.  It is 3.75 meters (12.3 feet) tall, compared to 4.7 meters (15.4 feet) for the original work.

It has one level of cascading ribbons beneath the figure standing on the concave surface that has been interpreted as an African head rest as well as the prow of a ship.

The figure itself is an amalgamation of the Winged Victory of Samothrace in the Louvre and Saartjie (Sarah) Baartmann (1789 - 1815 [some sources say 1816]), the South African woman who was exhibited as an "exotic curiosity" while she was alive and whose remains were displayed at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris for over 150 years after her death.

The convex surface of the original sculpture has become the base of Africa Rising II; the intricate rendering of ropes in bronze in Africa Rising are not present in this version of the work.

Still, Africa Rising II is utterly majestic and more than worth a visit to the garden to see.

Africa Rising II - right oblique close-up view
© Musée du Louvre. 2025. Audrey Viger

Visitors are well advised to consult a map of the garden to be certain to find the specific location (though wandering throughout the garden and seeing all the delightful installations would also be time well spent!).

Map of the Jardin des Tuileries
(See red circle for location of Africa Rising II)
© Entrée to Black Paris

If you are walking along the central alley toward the obelisk at Place de la Concorde, the sculpture will be on your left.

Central alleyway - view of the obelisk at Place de la Concorde
© Entrée to Black Paris

If you are walking along the alley toward the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics cauldron, the sculpture will be on your right.

Central alleyway - view of the Olympics cauldron
© Entrée to Black Paris

Africa Rising II will be on display in the garden through September 10, 2024.