Common themes addressed in modern African art
Most of the time we might find ourselves wandering around the halls of a modern art gallery and not really knowing why we appreciate a certain piece of art.
We can appreciate the time and resources it took to create this work of art and we know we find it visually attractive.
But that’s not why the artist created it.
There is always more to understand about modern art than what simply meets the eye. We’re going to explore some of the common themes that are being addressed in modern African art pieces. And the next time you go to a modern art gallery, you can take this knowledge (along with what you know about the artist as that’s also extremely important in the interpretation of art) and learn to appreciate art on a new level.
Death and the afterlife
A common fixation of African artists lie in death and the afterlife. The depictions in their paintings and art pieces usually stem from cultural folklore and beliefs. In modern African art, many contemporary artists are drawn to the ideals of utopian and dystopian worlds which are portrayed in their works.
Death as a subject has always been of fascination to most people. It’s something they fear, long for or are, simply, curious about. But one doesn’t think of death without considering the afterlife. And there are endless tales of what the afterlife will be like, if there is one. This provides the perfect subject of self-expressions for artists and their blank canvases. They can create an art piece that reflects their beliefs while giving viewers an opportunity to consider what’s on the other side.
And people choose to interpret these themes of death in various ways. Some people become fearful, while others become grateful for their life. But this is also a common theme because artists want to encourage society to realise that what they’re doing in life right now is affecting the future beyond their graves. People need to know that the time for change needs to happen within each generation and not only be left for the generations to come to deal with.
Historical backgrounds and political agenda
The next theme addressed in modern African art (and a popular one at that) is historical backgrounds and political agendas. We put these two together as they’re experienced as an interchangeable circumstance in many African countries. Groups of people are discriminated against and punished as a result of their peoples’ historical background and the governments in power at the time.
If you take South Africa, for example, it’s not difficult to see the aftereffects of Apartheid on its people even in 2018. Another example is found in African countries where civil war has run rampage and left ravaged communities behind years later. And this lack of justice and secondhand hurt from the political choices that were made have been passed on through the generations and is being brought to light through the contemporary African artists of today.
And the way that many African artists portray the theme of history and politics is through humour and focussing on the present. Some artists also choose to perform their exhibitions in connection with their African storytelling heritage while others tackle topics of the present.
Gender and sexuality
The theme of gender and sexual identification is something that has grown popular in society as whole, not only as an artist’s subject choice. However, considering that modern art is being used as a global expression of opinion, it’s no surprise that artists all over the world are using their art as a voice.
Lady Skollie (Laura Windvogel) is one such contemporary and controversial artist who chooses sexuality as her theme of choice. Well, the term “controversial” itself with regards to gender and sexuality is almost an offense on its own as most artists and activists would argue. Lady Skollie isn’t shy to express conversations on sex in her art and encourages others to be as open and honest about their sexuality as well. With gender-neutrality movements on the rise, artists also able to challenge the social constructs and expectations that are restricting its people through their art.
There are no boundaries when it comes to evoking emotion and highlighting the issues of the world in artworks. It might not always be appreciated, but that’s usually only because it’s not properly understood. This is why it’s important to explore the common themes of modern African art to appreciate the message of what is being displayed. Art cannot be interpreted at face-value alone and we owe it to the artists to respect their creative process by working to understand it.