El Anatsui is an African American artist primarily known for sculpting works in clay and wood. Most of his work is based on traditional Ghanaian beliefs. African Contemporary Art is currently on the rise especially in Nigeria and Kenya, African collectors want to invest money into local artists such as El Anatsui to insure their asset's.
El Anatsui
For more information visit http://www.kissart.net/2011/04/el-anatsui/
Hey, I'm in your class as well- I'm Brent Paul.
ReplyDeleteI should say I've had an interest in african art for quite some time, though primarily pre-modern west african art. It's in large part due to the fact it's such an overlooked aspect of art history, and for that, contains a wide variety of impressive works, forms and styles that have so many dimensions and interpretations ripe for exploration. The statues the gold works of the Akan and the many artworks of the Benin Empire (particularly the bronzes and their ivory carvings) have few similar styles in pre-modern history, and among the most remarkable are the statues of the Yoruba in the city of Ile Ife, which I've seen called the only realist statues (depicting the human form in an unidealized state) other than the Greco-Romans prior to the renaissance- which, seeing them, they don't seem *that* without parallel, but are remarkable nonetheless.
For this, I feel I've overlooked modern african artwork, but my research has given me some grounding.
Hi Brent!
ReplyDeleteI agree that African Art is overlooked in Art History hence why I posted a blog about it. Art History is similar to any form of history we study from race to sex to religion; it has taken time to develop an open outlook as well as to begin to document or teach about topics that weren’t respected. Women, for example were not mentioned in much Art History until we became an actual respected part of society even if we were creating art a long time before then. I found a mask from the Kingdom of Benin that caught my eye and reminded me of your comment.
Visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Edo_ivory_mask_18472.jpg
I find it intriguing to say the least. The eyes pierce right through the viewer without much other facial expression. The bold horizontal lines in the middle of the forehead create an outstanding focal point as if to represent some significant ceremonially meaning as does the juxtaposed objects balancing in reparation around the top of the masks head. The detail is quite impressive, remarkably representational of an actual face. Most of these pieces were used during ceremonies to represent higher powers.