African Expression: The Contemporary Artists

Africa, being a continent blessed with natural resources, rich cultures and a vast spread of her ebony-looking race across her evergreen vegetation has proven to be nature’s one of the most favourable abode.

Her varying cultures across the land have seen different African artists express their niche in different artifacts; painting, sculpture, ceramics, etc.

Highlights of some finest Africa’s contemporary artists who have over time, expressed themselves with rich artistic knowledge made manifest through their works ranging from portraitures, sculptures, etc. are listed.

Lionel Smit (South Africa, born 1982)

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“Girl with Blue” (2013), Lionel Smit
Medium: Painting, sculpture, print

Favorite artists: Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol and Lucian Freud

On when he wanted to become an artist: “It wasn’t something I decided at first, but I grew up in an artistic home — my father is a sculptor — so it is something that came naturally to me. Later, while in art school, I knew that that is what I wanted to do.”

On his artistic goals: “If I can just carry on making art, I will be happy.”
(Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com - Priscilla Frank Arts & Culture Reporter, HuffPost)

Vabvakure by Gerald Machona at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa

Ragheb Ayad, Labouring, 70 x 50cm, Safar Khan Gallery, 1964

Gerald Machona’s exhibition at the Goodman Gallery focuses on themes of xenophobia, identity, estrangement and the experience of being a Zimbabwean artist working in an increasingly intolerant South Africa. The exhibition is entitled Vabvakure, meaning in the Shona language ‘people from far away’, and was, in part, inspired by the riots of 2008 in South Africa against other African migrants who had come to South Africa to live and work. The works on show include photographs, sculpture, and films and explore the harsh realities of being a foreigner in modern South Africa. There are elements of magic realism and you might see echoes of the heads without faces of the surrealist René Magritte in Machona’s style (Source https://theculturetrip.com › Africa).

Omenka Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria

© Omenka Gallery

A leading contemporary art gallery in Nigeria, Omenka Gallery showcases the work of emerging and acclaimed Nigerian and international artists, and houses one of the most comprehensive collections of the renowned Nigerian painter and sculptor Ben Enwounwu. Hosting solo exhibitions, group shows, and large, themed exhibitions, Omenka also participates in a number of international art fairs, runs an active publications program, and facilitates workshops to encourage critical development and dialogue on contemporary art in the country and the continent at large. Omenka regularly collaborates with international artists such as South African photographer Cedric Nunn, Angolan artist Manuela Sambo, and London-born Ransome Stanley, to create a culture of experimentation and creative exchange between local and international artists. (Source https://theculturetrip.com › Africa).

El Anatsui (Ghana, born 1944)

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“Al Haji,” El Anatsui
Medium: Found object sculpture

On his use of recycled materials: “I return them to use by giving them a different function — a higher function — maybe even the ultimate function. Each bottle-top returning as an object of contemplation has the capacity to reveal to us a more profound understanding of life than it ever did as a stopper [on a bottle].”
On his status as a “community artist”: “My resources, materials, and human [labor] are sourced from the community, and I believe that make[s] me a community artist. The ideas I work with, even if sourced from the community, address issues that go from the community to the outside world. They have universal resonance [and] relevance. I believe that makes me not [exclusively] a community artist.” (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com - Priscilla Frank Arts & Culture Reporter, HuffPost)

Peju Alatise (Nigeria, born 1975)

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“High Horses” triptych, Peju Alatise
Medium: Painting, sculpture

Inspirations: David Dale, Bruce Onabrakpeya, Susanna Wenger, Anslem Kieffer, Antony Gormley, Ai Wei Wei, Motohiko Odani and Do Ho Suh
On African art: “In my opinion, art from Africa remains still largely burdened by negative social, political and economic realities from its mother continent, hence, is unable to be judged by its own merit and without negative bias or condescending patronage. However, Africans must take the responsibility upon themselves to project their own art and learn to value them as one of their greatest cultural exports.”
On her use of humor: “Nigerians in general like a good laugh and would deal with the gravest of issues with humor. They will laugh at the deplorable state of education; make a joke of the nepotistic governance of the president and his wife; draw cartoons of the pedophilic senator who decides what becomes of our constitution. Nigerians are known for laughing at their circumstances rather than changing them. This syndrome is what FELA calls ‘suffering and smiling.’ Yes, I need to use this humor to make my subject-matters approachable.” (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com - Priscilla Frank Arts & Culture Reporter, HuffPost)

Gonçalo Mabunda (Mozambique, born 1975)

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“Weapon Throne,” Gonçalo Mabunda
Medium: Sculpture made from weapons

Materials: AK-47s, land mines, rocket launchers, soldiers’ boots and helmets, tanks

On his artistic mission: “Trying to represent each [person] who died with this same material ... If we destroy the weapons, the same weapon’s not going to kill any more.”
Controversy: In September 2015, U.S. customs officials in Philadelphia confiscated a throne made by Mabunda, crafted from decommissioned weapons of war. Adam Solow, a collector, was attempting to purchase the work from Mozambique. Solow said of the work: “Besides having a practical value — removing weapons from the social landscape of his country — [the thrones] also comment on the absurdity of war, national memory, and reconciliation in his country.” (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com - Priscilla Frank Arts & Culture Reporter, HuffPost)