I spent last Friday afternoon checking it out with a friend. It was frustratingly crowded, which I guess is to be expected with blockbuster shows like this one – but once we dodged the school groups and the selfie sticks, we got the chance to appreciate pieces he created over the past 20 years (including some new ones, specifically for RA). He’s very good at corrupting traditions to make a case for human rights and creative freedom – and though it’s occasionally cheeky and disturbing, it’s unequivocally sincere.

The show’s worth a visit and on until 13th December and you can find out more about it here. In the meantime, check out some of my snaps from my recent visit below:

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It its opening minutes, When China Met Africa informs us that in November 2006,  Beijing cemented its long-term relationship with Africa by hosting a summit of 48 African heads of state. Fast-forward three years later, and filmmaking brothers Nick and Marc Francis examine the current state of this relationship by following the lives of three people from different social classes in the country of Zambia: Mr Liu , a farmer who has just bought his fourth farm and sees his business booming, Mr Li , a road project manager, who is upgrading Zambia’s longest road and Mr Mutati, the country’s Trade Minister who is planning to go to China to secure millions of dollars of investment.

What is evident throughout the film is the inherent tendency of Chinese to jump at every opportunity that comes their way and try to get the best out of it, demonstrated for example in the story of Mr Liu who quit his office work in his country looking for a better future and in the Minister Mutati’s apposite description of the different method of approach that the Western and Chinese investors use.

However, while the film makes a strong case for China’s entrepreneurial spirit being a cardinal reason for forging a relationship with Africa, there are only glimpses of how this partnership has affected the lives of the locals.

Final verdict:  An interesting but somewhat one-sided approach to a really complicated yet  important subject.

(Words: Apostolos Kostoulas)

In cinemas October 7th.  For more info visit: www.whenchinametafrica.com

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