Curatorial Rationale
In developing my exhibition, my essential intention was to explore different patterns while also creating a stronger connection with my Malian culture. Along with incorporating historical and cultural elements, each piece attempts to represent African culture in different forms.
When arranging these pieces, I solely wanted to show the evolution of achieving true cultural expression through art. Initially, these creations introduce the past suppression of African culture alongside the glorification of colonization. However, it then shifts to show the positive perceptions of this culture and how it can construct a strong community. To insert a transition between this contrast of interpretation, certain compositions merge these two distinct depictions. Ultimately, this forms the final execution of representing this culture in its true form.
The left side of the exhibition begins with two pieces titled ‘Communication of Cultural Struggle’ and ‘The Layers Behind the Glorification of Colonization’. Both pieces serve to be an introduction to illustrating the development of African cultural expression. They use different patterning to set across this important message. Although they contain vibrant colors, the actual message behind them is essentially morbid. ‘Communication of Cultural Struggle’ presents a postcard format to ‘send’ a message that African culture has been suppressed.The glorification of colonization piece, uses distinct patterns to represent different European countries that had control over Africa when it was divided into colonies.
In unveiling what is hidden by this historical suppression ‘The Power of Perspective’ and ‘Testing of Textures’ communicates how African culture forms a community. With vibrant colors and patterns, these two photographs add allure to the piece while also placing it in a real-world setting. Both incorporate the use of textiles in the exhibition with fabric on the trunk of the tree in ‘Testing of Textures’, while on the branch of the tree in ‘The Power of Perspective’. The ‘Testing of Textures’ photograph is placed before ‘The Power of Perspective’ piece as it only incorporates one perspective of African heritage. Instead, ‘The Power of Perspective’ is split down the middle in order to display two different positive perceptions of this culture.
The final photograph of this collection titled ‘Advancing the Raw Representation of Culture’ commences the incorporation of a transition from degradation to glorification. This composition transforms from left to right with an extremely dark and blurry picture on the left and a high exposure image all the way on the right. Alterations to this photograph attempt to test the various points of view one can have on a culture which is represented by the fabric next to a set of flowers.
Continuing with this concept in mind ‘The Distinct Stages of Cultural Perception’ and ‘Composing the Cracked Perception of African Perspective’ show the different layers in one’s understanding evolving on African culture. In ‘The Distinct Stages of Cultural Perception’ the largest circle presents a visual of how a negative perception of this culture affects its true nature. However, in reaching the core it achieves it in its raw state containing a drum known as the Djembe originating from Mali. ‘Composing the Cracked Perception of African Perspective’ continues this technique from left to right and forms a beautiful woman from a disfigured picture shown on the left side. Together they develop the original interpretation of this culture and present the different angles its cultural elements can be assessed from.
With an interest in presenting this culture in its raw form, the final two pieces are extremely significant in the exhibition as they incorporate a limited amount of perspective. ‘The Chaotic Creation of African Culture’ and ‘The Blossoming of Bold African Patterning’ both simply rely on textures, colors, and patterns to present cultural elements with a traditional technique.The Chaotic Creation of African Culture’ combines the techniques of different African artists to show how complex this culture really is. However, ‘The Blossoming of Bold African Patterning’ is more simplistic and is used to show how textiles construct this culture and allow it to be represented in its raw form which is overshadowed by a human figure that prevents its full blossom.
In the entirety of the exhibition, I intend for my audience to recognize the range of ways that African culture can be represented. Additionally, I want them to consider the impact of these perspectives in authentically depicting African culture. I hope that the audience will recognize my incorporation of textiles and how essential it is in representing my heritage.