Art Theory - Community Art Centres
Thursday, 31 October 2024
17:25
Polly Street Centre
Was the first art centre for black people and thus created the first generation of black artists
in South Africa
Was closed down in 1957 because area became deemed a whites only
Reopened in Soweto and called the Jubilee art centre
Was founded by Cecil Skotnes who wanted to preserve African art culture and not teach
them Western art only
Sydney Khumalo
Was exposed to Northern, Central and West African art and sculpture
Worked with terracotta casted in bronze
Was influenced by artists like Picasso, Matisse, Henry Moore
His bronze sculptures depict human and animal forms, mostly combines, in a basic forms
Showed the relationship between animals and humans
His work is a representation of his search for his African roots and identity
Influenced by cubism and abstract art
Sydney Khumalo- Dancing Woman
o Depicts a woman in basic form leaning over
o She is standing in contrapose, which is common in Western sculpture but not African
o Her head is leaned back as if she is listening to distant music
o Movement and rhythm of the dancing woman is accentuated by the sloping
shoulder, the different formed legs and the tilted head
Rorke's Drift
Started by a Swedish couple with the primary function of advancing SA art
Combine American, SA, European teachings with rural and traditional values
Focused on skills, technical fine art, printmaking, textile, pottery
Had a fine arts section and a craft section, but they often overlapped which caused an
increase in personal expression in craft
Aims:
o Develop and encourage art heritage of Africa
o Help Africans develop their skills so they can sell their art for income - bettering the
standard of living
John Muafengejo
Linocutting
Work style was simplified
Highly decorative
Repetition of line, patterns and shapes
2D backgrounds
Black and white refer to duality of life in general
Provided text to explain works, mostly in English as it was directed at white viewers
Themes: everyday life in ZuluLand, religious themes, autobiographical themes, political
events, historical events
Thursday, 31 October 2024
17:25
Polly Street Centre
Was the first art centre for black people and thus created the first generation of black artists
in South Africa
Was closed down in 1957 because area became deemed a whites only
Reopened in Soweto and called the Jubilee art centre
Was founded by Cecil Skotnes who wanted to preserve African art culture and not teach
them Western art only
Sydney Khumalo
Was exposed to Northern, Central and West African art and sculpture
Worked with terracotta casted in bronze
Was influenced by artists like Picasso, Matisse, Henry Moore
His bronze sculptures depict human and animal forms, mostly combines, in a basic forms
Showed the relationship between animals and humans
His work is a representation of his search for his African roots and identity
Influenced by cubism and abstract art
Sydney Khumalo- Dancing Woman
o Depicts a woman in basic form leaning over
o She is standing in contrapose, which is common in Western sculpture but not African
o Her head is leaned back as if she is listening to distant music
o Movement and rhythm of the dancing woman is accentuated by the sloping
shoulder, the different formed legs and the tilted head
Rorke's Drift
Started by a Swedish couple with the primary function of advancing SA art
Combine American, SA, European teachings with rural and traditional values
Focused on skills, technical fine art, printmaking, textile, pottery
Had a fine arts section and a craft section, but they often overlapped which caused an
increase in personal expression in craft
Aims:
o Develop and encourage art heritage of Africa
o Help Africans develop their skills so they can sell their art for income - bettering the
standard of living
John Muafengejo
Linocutting
Work style was simplified
Highly decorative
Repetition of line, patterns and shapes
2D backgrounds
Black and white refer to duality of life in general
Provided text to explain works, mostly in English as it was directed at white viewers
Themes: everyday life in ZuluLand, religious themes, autobiographical themes, political
events, historical events
