THEME 6
IDENTITY
WHAT IS IDENTITY?
Who am I?
• Individual identity – unique sense of personhood and individuality in each person
• Social identity – the collective sense of belonging to a group and having something in common
• Cultural identity – belonging to a distinct ethnic, cultural or sub-cultural group
IDENTITY IN POST-1994 DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA
National symbols were changed to construct a new South African identity and a new heritage for the democratic
nation - New anthem, flag, heritage site and coat of arms – one of the most diverse countries in the world.
The legacy of apartheid has spoilt cultural and ethnic identities putting people in stereotypical structures.
IDENTITY IN 1994 SOUTH AFRICAN ART
The end of apartheid gave freedom of expression to both individuals and groups – this has generated a process of
intense internal reflection in trying to understand the part and build a future.
Many South African artists work around the broad theme of identity which included issues of language. Ethnicity,
race, history, globalization and urbanization in the new South Africa.
There is also a strong obsession with autobiography where artists question and reflect on their heritage, family
identity, gender and class – identity is then reflected on and redefined.
The legacy of race classification under the apartheid led to many post-apartheid works which explore identity in the
new South Africa and in so doing reclaim identity.
Johannes was born in Soweto and studied art in London
– has always avoided being typecast, he said “I
remember arriving in London and being questioned
about African art” “No one ever stops a European artist
and asks him to define European art.”
SUBJECT
This artwork is based on the work of a Flemish artist
Jacob Jordaens.
He paints obese naked white women – he has put a
decapitated head of an African man in a bird cage as well
as an African mask in the niche in the top left - An obese
man is sitting in the centre singing presumably to the
son who will pipe.
JOHANNES PHOKELA, “AS THE OLD ONES SING, SO THE YOUNG ONES PIPE”, 1998, OIL ON CANVAS
STRUCTURE/ MEANING
Has introduced 3 white triangles – frames disrupt his painting and isolating sections for individual focus – this work
tells how greedy individuals have passed their legacy to the willing youth. Phokela has been strongly influenced by
the art of the Dutch Golden Age (during colonialization). Colonizers are merry and having fun from spoils from Africa.
Phokela gives a unique perspective to this history.
IDENTITY
WHAT IS IDENTITY?
Who am I?
• Individual identity – unique sense of personhood and individuality in each person
• Social identity – the collective sense of belonging to a group and having something in common
• Cultural identity – belonging to a distinct ethnic, cultural or sub-cultural group
IDENTITY IN POST-1994 DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA
National symbols were changed to construct a new South African identity and a new heritage for the democratic
nation - New anthem, flag, heritage site and coat of arms – one of the most diverse countries in the world.
The legacy of apartheid has spoilt cultural and ethnic identities putting people in stereotypical structures.
IDENTITY IN 1994 SOUTH AFRICAN ART
The end of apartheid gave freedom of expression to both individuals and groups – this has generated a process of
intense internal reflection in trying to understand the part and build a future.
Many South African artists work around the broad theme of identity which included issues of language. Ethnicity,
race, history, globalization and urbanization in the new South Africa.
There is also a strong obsession with autobiography where artists question and reflect on their heritage, family
identity, gender and class – identity is then reflected on and redefined.
The legacy of race classification under the apartheid led to many post-apartheid works which explore identity in the
new South Africa and in so doing reclaim identity.
Johannes was born in Soweto and studied art in London
– has always avoided being typecast, he said “I
remember arriving in London and being questioned
about African art” “No one ever stops a European artist
and asks him to define European art.”
SUBJECT
This artwork is based on the work of a Flemish artist
Jacob Jordaens.
He paints obese naked white women – he has put a
decapitated head of an African man in a bird cage as well
as an African mask in the niche in the top left - An obese
man is sitting in the centre singing presumably to the
son who will pipe.
JOHANNES PHOKELA, “AS THE OLD ONES SING, SO THE YOUNG ONES PIPE”, 1998, OIL ON CANVAS
STRUCTURE/ MEANING
Has introduced 3 white triangles – frames disrupt his painting and isolating sections for individual focus – this work
tells how greedy individuals have passed their legacy to the willing youth. Phokela has been strongly influenced by
the art of the Dutch Golden Age (during colonialization). Colonizers are merry and having fun from spoils from Africa.
Phokela gives a unique perspective to this history.
