World of Art Part II – Iden00es (lecture 6-8)
College 6 Lecture by S0jn Bussels, Simone Leigh
WHOSE LEGACY DOES AFRICAN ART/SCULPTURE BELONG TO?
• Relate to what Picasso did with his pain0ng
• Simone Leigh, at the Venice Biennale, on the pavilion of the United States of America
• Other representa0ons of other ar0sts.
AFRICAN ART
African Art
African Culture
African Heritage
African Sculpture
African in (front) a 0tle à what is Africa? Broad and vague open to discussion, very generalist in a
way.
WHAT IS AFRICAN ART?
Thenà a word brought by Western-Europeans back to their countries and calling it primi0ve art.
Condescending, in a way. Primi0ve, because Western-Europeans thought African con0nent
was ‘behind’. African con0nent not being the only con0nent that was behind.
Nowà making it yours, making it African heritage, not as a fact, but as an idea.
WHO OWNS THIS TITLE AFRICAN ART?
Biennale (every 2 years)
• The Venice Biennale is like the Olympics of the Art Worldà modern art
• Theme 2022: The Milk of Dreams
• 25 countries have their own pavilion that have been built over the years.
• New countries rent a place for their pavilion.
• Every Biennale 1 ar0st gets asked to make something for their country/pavilion.
• 2022 Simone Leigh was asked to do something for the pavilion of the USA.
• More women and non bienary ar0sts
Entrance: pavilion itself, a modern classic clean building, typical palladium style.
Entranced blocked by Simone Leigh huge sculpture.
Sculpture: Sateli'e, the sculpture is a representa0on of a woman, the afro American woman.
Inspira0on for Simon Leigh
2 sculptures
1. Akwaba, Fer0lity doll of the Ashan0 àsame central round head, moonlike, the face
2. Shoulder mask, a Nimba, from the Baga people. Person wearing this would make him higher
due to the mask
What is the difference between Simone Leigh’s sculpture and her inspira0ons?
College 6 Lecture by S0jn Bussels, Simone Leigh
WHOSE LEGACY DOES AFRICAN ART/SCULPTURE BELONG TO?
• Relate to what Picasso did with his pain0ng
• Simone Leigh, at the Venice Biennale, on the pavilion of the United States of America
• Other representa0ons of other ar0sts.
AFRICAN ART
African Art
African Culture
African Heritage
African Sculpture
African in (front) a 0tle à what is Africa? Broad and vague open to discussion, very generalist in a
way.
WHAT IS AFRICAN ART?
Thenà a word brought by Western-Europeans back to their countries and calling it primi0ve art.
Condescending, in a way. Primi0ve, because Western-Europeans thought African con0nent
was ‘behind’. African con0nent not being the only con0nent that was behind.
Nowà making it yours, making it African heritage, not as a fact, but as an idea.
WHO OWNS THIS TITLE AFRICAN ART?
Biennale (every 2 years)
• The Venice Biennale is like the Olympics of the Art Worldà modern art
• Theme 2022: The Milk of Dreams
• 25 countries have their own pavilion that have been built over the years.
• New countries rent a place for their pavilion.
• Every Biennale 1 ar0st gets asked to make something for their country/pavilion.
• 2022 Simone Leigh was asked to do something for the pavilion of the USA.
• More women and non bienary ar0sts
Entrance: pavilion itself, a modern classic clean building, typical palladium style.
Entranced blocked by Simone Leigh huge sculpture.
Sculpture: Sateli'e, the sculpture is a representa0on of a woman, the afro American woman.
Inspira0on for Simon Leigh
2 sculptures
1. Akwaba, Fer0lity doll of the Ashan0 àsame central round head, moonlike, the face
2. Shoulder mask, a Nimba, from the Baga people. Person wearing this would make him higher
due to the mask
What is the difference between Simone Leigh’s sculpture and her inspira0ons?
