African art vs. Visual Arts

African art vs. Visual Arts

Africa is commonly regarded more as a site of production of handicrafts. But seriously on the Dark Continent Art and Design is operated. do away with prejudices now the makers of "The Global Africa Project" at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.

Until recently, they took the African willow basket with love shopping at the vegetable market. At the cocktail reception we went but then perhaps with the Gucci bag. That should change now:

"The image of Africa and the African people is fasch as primitive artisans. The artisans in Africa today tradition with the future. They respond to the needs of the market and are very well organized. Even the nomadic people of the Masai has a website. creativity in the African world goes far beyond wicker baskets also, and even in terms of wicker baskets, there is a strong marketing and design concept. "

Said Lowery Stokes Sims, the co-curator of "The Global Africa Project". This is one of the first and most comprehensive exhibitions that will contribute to art, craft and design in contemporary Africa, the label of the third world tinkering finally get rid of. Over a hundred artists are represented in it, that creations of furniture, fashion and ceramics extend to the visual arts.

Kehinde Wiley is one of the most renowned. The New York-based painter shows here one of those naturalistic portraits of urban African-Americans, for which he is known. But the real attention is the chic midnight blue sneakers and T-shirts are designed by Wiley on behalf of the sports goods manufacturer Puma for the World Cup in Africa.

The boundaries between art and design are no longer clearly defined, said Lowery Stokes Sims. Thus, the multi-storey black object from Harlem's Heaven Hat Boutique is sculpture and warm felt hat in one. And the kunterbuntscheckige quilt from the Siddi Women's Quilting Cooperative is suitable as a bedspread and as a wall decoration.

was inevitable during the preparation for this exhibition, the question raised about what would be better for Africa, investment or development project, said Lowery Stokes Sims

"I remembered the work of Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto, who wrote about the so-called Third Way, about the possibilities of establishing an independent company despite the lack of infrastructure. I see art, craft and design as a third way for economic development of Africa."

To the label "Made in Africa" is a bestseller, it will take a while. But what wicker baskets at cocktail parties concerned: The Gahaya Links Weaving Association, a joint venture between Hutu and Tutsi women in Rwanda, now employs 4,000 people. One of their main customers Macy's, America's most prestigious department store chain. Who wants to be replaced ahead of the trend, that is better now, the Gucci-Täsch by African wattle.

The exhibition "The Global Africa Project" at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York continues until 15 May Given under the same title a 280-page catalog is published. It costs 49.95 dollars.