Write a short paragraph regarding what you have heard about African and Oceania Art. What is one thing that stood out to you? What is one question you still have about it?
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Write a short paragraph regarding what you have heard about African and Oceania Art. What is one thing that stood out to you? What is one question you still have about it?
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Most of the artworks African and Oceanic Art was very interesting to learn about. The artwork Between Heaven and Earth really stood out to me because of the distinctive colors makes the artwork look amazing. The rectangle pieces made of aluminum, copper and wire and are sewed together represents their ethnics of African Art. Interesting facts about certain islands and their landscapes look cool.
I have always had a grand appreciation for African art because opposed to European art, it has focused more on an abstract approach that intense realism. I know Picasso was very influenced by them as well for this same reason. I would like to know more about the artistic process, where they started in idea conception, what was the aim to achieve in the final form. What are the philosophies and drivers behind the work? I really enjoyed the work by Yinka Shonibare. His approach to political concerns while being playful is quite an achievement. It was very interesting the know that the signature colorful clothing was influenced by Indonesia and created by the Dutch.
African art is very interesting. From the lecture, I found the “Scramble for africa” by Yinka Shonibare very weird but meaningful because the center of the table is the map of africa. The mannequins have such a bright and colorful clothing but mannequins have no head.
African art I witness in today’s lecture was really amazing I loved each piece that was shown on the slides, but the one that stood out most to me was Moai Ancestor Figures I mean imagine how many years and patience it took to make something that grand and detailing is just breath takening and well thought out. One thing I still would like to know is how the artist made the eyes so real?
Throughout the lecture i Found almost everything interesting like between heaven and earth art of Africa which was made out of metal from bottle caps of liquor. Which was a way to recycle those bottle caps. Also artists had to look for cheap material to make art which who knew you could make art out of anything basically. Also i found the scramble for Africa art was very interesting because it was very delusional and interesting since the people didn’t have a face but only bodies and I didn’t knew there was 14 people until you told us , I thought there was only a little people but from close up you can really see that there are 14 people in total. Perhaps this illusion was because of the patterns that were made as well as the bright colors each person had. Also i found the photography interesting since people would think it would take your soul and how when people took a picture there would only be pictures of slaves and dead children.
I have never studied Africa art so I loved this lesson. I loved learning about the influences and want to know even more! I’ve never thought about the influences of African art and have only ever thought about the art as the influencer. Like everyone else I liked the bright, distinctive colors found throught the art. Also i found the art made from objects like the bottle tops super cool.
Something that I really enjoyed about this lesson was the art piece or the beautiful
photo taken of the slave Renty from Congo Africa. Though this picture brought out so many sad emotions it also brought up many questions too. Renty was from Congo and was later taken to America in the 19th century. A biologist from Harvard went around arguing that the white race was better, he did this by taking photos of slaves. The photo has so much hidden questions and meaning behind it and it instantly drew my attention. Im glad that it is still around so that we are able to see it and gain a deeper understanding.
During the early 1900s, the aesthetics of traditional African sculpture became a powerful influence among European artists who formed an avant-garde in the development of modern art. Oceanic art and architecture, the visual art and architecture of native Oceania, including media such as sculpture, pottery, rock art, basketry, masks, painting, and personal decoration. I really enjoyed the work by Yinka Shonibare. Drawing from his own experience growing up in the U.K. and Nigeria, Yinka Shonibare investigates political and social histories related to post-colonialism and globalization, reconfiguring iconic imagery from the Western art-historical canon with a playful and ironic touch. Working in sculpture, film, photography, and painting, Shonibare is best known for his tableaux of characters dressed in spectacular period costumes made from batik.
I didn’t know much of African and Oceania art before so it was great learning about this. It was a big eye opener and it was very interesting. One things that stood out to me was how their art was very unique and could be distinguishable. I enjoyed how different the statues were, the shape the features and how they were placed, I also liked the kente cloth. Another piece of art was the scramble of Africa because its very different and can lean to many interpretation and have many meanings behind it.
From the materials, I have learned most about the significance of African and Oceanic art to its own people, especially to those involved in the process of making it. The history of the Moai statues on the island of Rapa Nu, belonging to the natives of the same name, is the most interesting to me. This is simply because, without a surviving ecosystem from the time the Rapa Nui people lived on the island, it seems the civilization they built over hundreds of years has just vanished, leaving scholars to explain their demise, and the fact that there is no trace that gives a clear answer is the most interesting part. The common thread is that the Moai represented the ancestors of their people and these statues acted as a link to their ancestry, to their spiritual beliefs, and their tribalism. In their final days, the Moai could have represented the end of Rapa Nui rituals where Maoi remain until today, but possibly at the cost of exhausting the once-abundant resources available to the Rapa Nui.
My only question would revolve around their way of life and evolution as a people. As it is said in the documentary, the story of Rapa Nui perfectly symbolizes a scaled-down rendition of the human race on Earth and the path we are currently taking. Unfortunately, the most we can take away from the ruins is a cautionary tale, but I would be curious to see the arc their society took between settlement and their downfall. How much were they able to develop with their centuries-long stay on Rapa Nui and how far removed had it been from the culture the original settlers brought with them?
It’s interesting to know how all of Yinka Shonibare’s sculptures are headless. His main purpose was not to create a race but to use it as metaphors. The clothing designs he uses are very vibrant colors. “Scrambled of Africa” represents the 19th century when the European countries made the decision without asking the people if that what they wanted.
I believe this lecture was interesting and what caught my attention the most was how the African art was kinda weird but at the same time it had a powerful meaning!
Its unfortunate and sad the true meanings of most artifacts from Africa would never be told since the were stolen and moved out of Africa, and the meaning or what the represent came from second hand source. It interesting to learn Africans identify with some pieces spiritually and have its own meaning according to each specific group. I find the Asmat ancestral spirit poles interesting as this was a way of representing their culture as head hunters.