African Aesthetic

How can you define the African aesthetic? A continent made up of 54 countries — each with their own culture, their own traditions and their own social structures – no doubt produces stylistically varied African artists.

The literary movement Négritude was led by the writers Aimé Césaire, Léon Damas and Léopold Sédar Senghor and played a huge part in the development of modern African art. Founded in 1937 by a group of African student artists in Paris, a city with a tolerant and diverse art scene, the movement grew globally. The movement aimed to critique colonialism and cultivate an appreciation for Black and African culture, the effects of which no doubt is imperative to the contemporary African art scene.

According to Léopold Sédar Senghor, in order for African art to progress it had to reflect the modernity of the present by responding to contemporary social issues and artistic styles, while celebrating traditional culture. By also drawing from other Modernist movements such as the Harlem Renaissance and Surrealism, the African aesthetic of visual art focuses on these principles and is today conveyed by the likes of Angu Walters who focuses on everyday life in African villages. Whilst Faie Davis seeks to use her lens to capture an appreciation for those who retain tradition.

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Categories

Subcategories

African Aesthetic

Born This Way

Moment in a Time

Come as you are

Life Tune

Within

Vague

Fear Not

Expectations

Focus

Me 2

Me 3

Unsaid words

Sisters in Yellow 5 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Love African Fabric

Good Woman - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women on African Fabric

Inner Nature 3 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women on African Fabric

Unraveling

Hope From Above - 21st Century Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Woman, Modern

A Bond Unspoken

This is One not Two

Joyline 2

Lianes - Lianas

Les Mannequins (The Supermodels) 1

The Drummer and the Flutist VIII

Bímpé - Self-made VI

The Happy Family XXXI

African Juju Society II

Opening the Festival V

All Heads Together XII

African Blues Singers

In the Village

Prayer V

Saturday Market

The Drummer

Mother, Father and Child

Wrinkles and Silk

Woven Beauty

Testament of Solidarity

Peace Within - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa, Women Symbolism

Solace - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa, Women, Hair

Give It To Me - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Floral, Africa, Women

Fractured Harmony

Yesterday's Echo

Chaos and Elegance

Side By Side

Solace

Meditation - 2st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Dress, Women

Iwalewa - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Africa Dress, Women

Hope of Glory (Ireti Ogo)

Eden

The Odd One

Gentle Hold of the Couch

Unfurling the Past 2

Unfurling the Past

For a Moment

Resilience

Solace

Aren't We All Hungry?

First Love Yourself

Await

The courageous woman(Feminine Epidemic series) II

Sisters in Yellow 4 -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Love African Fabric

Inner Nature 4 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative, Women on African Fabric

My Hair and I

Bound by Love

Man in the Hood

Peace and Tranquility 1