Paintings & Artworks. Oil, Canvas Original Art – Muskaw Millenial's Art House https://fr.muskawarthouse.com Thu, 31 Aug 2023 08:41:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://i0.wp.com/fr.muskawarthouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-icononly_transparent_nobuffer-copy.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Paintings & Artworks. Oil, Canvas Original Art – Muskaw Millenial's Art House https://fr.muskawarthouse.com 32 32 230746775 The guy from Brooklyn: How growing up in Brooklyn shaped Jean-Michel Basquiat’s creative expression https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/the-guy-from-brooklyn-how-growing-up-in-brooklyn-shaped-jean-michel-basquiats-creative-expression/ https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/the-guy-from-brooklyn-how-growing-up-in-brooklyn-shaped-jean-michel-basquiats-creative-expression/#respond Thu, 31 Aug 2023 08:40:32 +0000 https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/?p=6107
Brooklyn had a significant influence on the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat, commonly known as Basquiat. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Basquiat’s art was deeply rooted in the cultural and social environment of the borough.
First of all, when talking about Brooklyn it is important to talk about its African culture influence, and its important place in history,and in black cultural and artistic renaissance.
Brooklyn has played a significant role in black history, serving as a hub for African-American culture, activism, and community development. Its impact on black history is multifaceted, encompassing activism, cultural expression, community development, and educational opportunities. The borough has been a site of resilience, creativity, and progress for the African-American community, leaving a lasting legacy in the annals of black history
Brooklyn was a hotbed of abolitionist activity in the 19th century. Prominent abolitionists such as Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Tubman resided in Brooklyn and played crucial roles in the fight against slavery. The Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights, led by Beecher, became a centre for anti-slavery activism and a stop on the Underground Railroad. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Brooklyn was a site of significant activism and organising. Local leaders and organisations, such as the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Brooklyn chapter of the NAACP, fought for racial equality, desegregation, and voting rights. Brooklyn activists participated in key events like the March on Washington and the Freedom Rides. Brooklyn has also been a centre for black community development and empowerment. Organisations like the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, founded in 1967, have worked to address economic disparities, provide affordable housing, and support small businesses in predominantly black neighbourhoods. These efforts have helped foster a sense of community pride and resilience. Moreover, Brooklyn has been home to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and educational institutions that have played a vital role in black education and activism. Medgar Evers College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, was established in Brooklyn in 1970 and has been a key institution for black higher education and community engagement.
African Influence in Brooklyn
African influence in Brooklyn is significant and can be seen in various aspects of the borough’s culture, art, music, and community.
Brooklyn is home to a large and diverse African diaspora population, including people of African, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latinx descent. These communities have brought their rich cultural traditions, languages, music, and cuisine to the borough, contributing to its vibrant multicultural fabric.
Brooklyn hosts numerous cultural festivals and events that celebrate African heritage and traditions. For example, the West Indian American Day Carnival, held annually in Brooklyn, showcases the vibrant cultures of the Caribbean, with colourful parades, music, dance, and food. Similarly, the African Arts Festival in Brooklyn highlights African art, music, dance, and fashion.
African music and dance have had a significant impact on Brooklyn’s music scene. Afrobeat, a genre popularised by Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, has gained a strong following in Brooklyn, with numerous Afrobeat bands and DJs performing in the borough. Additionally, traditional African dance forms, such as West African dance and Afro-Caribbean dance, are taught and practiced in Brooklyn’s dance studios and community centres.
Furthermore, Brooklyn is home to various community organizations and activist groups that focus on African-American issues and promote social justice. These organizations work to raise awareness about African-Amercian and African history, culture, and current events, while also advocating for the rights and well-being of African-American communities in Brooklyn and beyond.
The African influence in Brooklyn is a testament to the borough’s diverse and inclusive nature. It has enriched the cultural landscape, fostered community connections, and contributed to the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere of the borough.
Cultural Renaissance
Brooklyn has been a breeding ground for African-American artistic and cultural movements. The borough has nurtured the talents of renowned black artists, writers, musicians, and performers. The Harlem Renaissance, a cultural and intellectual movement of the 1920s, had a significant impact on Brooklyn’s black community, with artists like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston finding inspiration and support in the borough.
Influence of Brooklyn in Jean-Michel Basquiat’s art
Growing up in Brooklyn during the 1970s and 1980s, Basquiat was exposed to the vibrant street art and graffiti scene that was prevalent in the borough. He started his artistic career as a graffiti artist under the pseudonym SAMO, which he used to tag walls and buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan. This experience with street art and graffiti heavily influenced his later works, as he incorporated elements of graffiti, such as bold lines, vibrant colors, and expressive lettering, into his paintings.
Brooklyn is known for its diverse and multicultural population, and this diversity had a profound impact on Basquiat’s art. His works often explored themes of race, identity, and social inequality, drawing inspiration from the multicultural environment of Brooklyn. Basquiat’s art celebrated African-American culture and history, while also addressing issues of racism and discrimination.
Basquiat was deeply influenced by the music scene in Brooklyn, especially jazz. Brooklyn has a rich musical heritage, particularly in jazz and hip-hop.
He often incorporated musical references and imagery into his paintings, using jazz as a metaphor for improvisation and freedom in his artistic process. The rhythmic and improvisational nature of jazz can be seen in the energetic and spontaneous brushwork in Basquiat’s paintings.
Basquiat’s art often depicted the gritty and raw aspects of urban life, which he observed in Brooklyn. He captured the energy, chaos, and decay of the city streets, reflecting the socio-economic struggles and the impact of gentrification on the borough. Basquiat’s paintings often featured fragmented and layered imagery, reflecting the fragmented nature of urban life in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn has long been a hub for artists, and Basquiat was part of a vibrant artistic community in the borough. He collaborated with other artists, musicians, and writers, exchanging ideas and influences. This artistic community provided Basquiat with a supportive environment to develop his unique style and explore his artistic vision.
Overall, Brooklyn’s cultural diversity, street art scene, music, urban environment, and artistic community played a crucial role in shaping Basquiat’s art. His works reflect the spirit and energy of the borough, while also addressing important social and cultural issues.
]]> https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/the-guy-from-brooklyn-how-growing-up-in-brooklyn-shaped-jean-michel-basquiats-creative-expression/feed/ 0 6107 Basquiat-Wharhol exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris : A focus on the omnipresence of african references in Basquiat’s art throughout the exhibition https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/basquiat-wharhol-exhibition-at-the-louis-vuitton-foundation-in-paris-a-focus-on-the-omnipresence-of-african-references-in-basquiats-art-throughout-the-exhibition/ https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/basquiat-wharhol-exhibition-at-the-louis-vuitton-foundation-in-paris-a-focus-on-the-omnipresence-of-african-references-in-basquiats-art-throughout-the-exhibition/#respond Thu, 31 Aug 2023 08:36:21 +0000 https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/?p=6100
The Basquiat Warhol exhibition at Louis Vuitton Paris showcased the works of two iconic artists, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. The exhibition aimed to explore the artistic dialogue between the two artists and their impact on contemporary art.
The exhibition featured a wide range of artworks, including paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures. It highlighted the distinct styles and themes of both artists, while also emphasising the similarities and connections between their works.
Basquiat’s vibrant and expressive paintings, often featuring bold colours, abstract figures, and text, were juxtaposed with Warhol’s iconic pop art pieces, which incorporated everyday objects, celebrities, and consumer culture.
The exhibition also delved into the personal and professional relationship between Basquiat and Warhol, showcasing collaborative works and shedding light on their shared artistic influences and inspirations.
African Art as a Source of Inspiration to Basquiat:
Jean-Michel Basquiat of Haitian origins, born in 1960 in Brooklyn New York, drew inspiration from a wide range of sources, and African art played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic vision. He was particularly drawn to the expressive power, symbolism, and spiritual depth found in traditional African art forms. Basquiat’s exploration of African art was not limited to mere imitation but rather a fusion of its essence with his own unique style. Brooklyn had a big impact on Basquiat’s artistic expression.
The Exhibition's Celebration of African Art:
The Basquiat exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation pays homage to the artist’s deep connection with African art. Visitors will encounter a diverse array of African artifacts, masks, sculptures, and textiles displayed alongside Basquiat’s works. This juxtaposition allows viewers to appreciate the visual dialogue between Basquiat’s contemporary creations and the timeless beauty of African art
Symbolism and Spirituality:
African art is renowned for its rich symbolism and spiritual significance, and these elements are evident in Basquiat’s work. The exhibition highlights the artist’s use of symbols, motifs, and references to African deities and rituals. Basquiat’s incorporation of these elements adds layers of meaning to his art, inviting viewers to explore themes of identity, heritage, and the human experience.
Expressive Techniques and Bold Colours:
African art often employs vibrant colours and bold, expressive techniques to convey emotions and narratives. Basquiat’s work reflects this influence through his use of intense hues, energetic brushstrokes, and spontaneous mark-making. The exhibition showcases the artist’s ability to infuse his paintings with a raw and powerful energy reminiscent of African artistic traditions.
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In recent years, there has been heated debate over how to define and categorise modern artwork from Africa. African art has long been dismissed as primitive and tribal despite its undeniable aesthetic value.
Nonetheless, African artists are making waves with their original concepts and groundbreaking methods in contemporary art. Numerous historical, intellectual, and geopolitical influences have shaped contemporary African art. It is characterised by a combination of traditional and modern elements that, taken together, depict their varied experience.
Through their works, many African artists have made statements about colonialism, shared culture, and social and political inequality. Nevertheless, whether contemporary African art must be categorised as made in Africa or developed outside Africa remains open. Some argue that the quality of the work itself is more important than its place of origin. According to some, a piece’s historical context may be crucial to understanding its meaning.
On the one hand, many African artists have left that continent for better opportunities overseas, and their work has become frequently included in international shows. These creators’ works reflect how they have been impacted by their travels and exposure to cultures outside their own. It follows that their products should be considered produced outside Africa. On the other side, a rising trend can be seen in which African artists are working in their societies to tackle regional concerns via their work. These creators evoke time-honoured methods and resources to produce art firmly anchored in their cultural background. Their art could be viewed as a reaction to colonialism’s aftereffects and the never-ending fight for African independence, or just a way to embrace their history.
In conclusion, how to classify African artistry is a slight problem that begs fundamental concerns about the essence of art, shared culture, and the international art market. Even if there is no simple solution, contemporary art from Africa is inevitably a thriving and exciting sector that should be recognized and acknowledged for its aesthetic worth and cultural relevance.
]]> https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/african-contemporary-art-made-in-africa-or-beyond-a-brief-history-and-questions-raised/feed/ 0 5309 The “art-hunting” travel guide : Through 10 art fairs showcasing emerging artists from Africa and the Middle-East https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/the-art-hunting-travel-guide-through-10-art-fairs-showcasing-emerging-artists-from-africa-and-the-middle-east/ https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/the-art-hunting-travel-guide-through-10-art-fairs-showcasing-emerging-artists-from-africa-and-the-middle-east/#respond Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:52:48 +0000 https://fr.muskawarthouse.com/?p=81

Without ranking or preference, here are 10 art fairs showcasing African and Middle eastern talents

1.    1:54 Fair

This small, specialised fair is dedicated to Africa's art and diaspora. Founded by Touria El Glaoui, it helds different editions every year between NewYork-London-Paris-Marrakech. It’s an opportunity for contemporary artists and galleries from all over the African continent to showcase their talent at an international art fair dedicated to the region and its talent.

2.     Art Dubai

The Middle East's top international art fair takes place in March of every Year in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Over the past 16 years, Art Dubai has cemented its role as a significant catalyst in international, local, and regional conversation concerning art in the Middle East and the surrounding areas while putting art from such territories on a global map. It has been a launch pad and a developmental platform for artists’ successful careers . Art Dubai aims to drive dialogue on contemporary art and the rich cultural heritage from the Middle East to various territories worldwide. This modern-day gallery stands out to the public as it presents works from different parts of the world, thus pushing both established and emerging art scenes to the spotlight with group and solo shows.

3.    Cape Town Art Fair

The Cape Town Art Fair has been a renowned showcase of the African continent's emerging and best-established creatives . Even though it is relatively young, the fair has developed impressively to incorporate diverse works that span the continent.

4.    Sharjah Biennial

The Sharjah Biennial fair is a large-scale modern art exhibition which occurs once in every two years within the city of Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates. Sharjah Biennial remains open to the public from March 2023 to June . This exhibition occurs in Sharjah of the UAE, crossing the emirates into the sites and around the city.

5.    AKAA

Being a heavyweight destination for the art world, the Also Known as Africa's Design and art fair of Paris has helped elevate African art internationally. This fair depicts stunning art from all over the continent, and many more hands on the AKAA underground incorporates a more practical aspect.

6.    Lagos Photo Festival

It is the only festival that focuses on the primary in Nigeria. This festival operates for a month and incorporates various workshops, presentations, discussions, and exhibitions. During the festival, organizers transform public spaces to keep the public engaged in issues concerning Africa . What is cool about this African fair is that it unites local and foreign artists and photographers and is a community-based festival that can have a lasting effect on talented photographers in Africa.

7.    Johannesburg Art Fair

It was the foremost intentional African art fair and is mostly grown to offer remarkable support to today’s artists. Annually, the fair offers a space in the continent's top galleries, artists, fans, and collectors to keep unity. With constant lecturers and talks from industry experts and artists, they serve a crucial role in helping, educating, and informing people worldwide.

8.    Islamic Arts Biennale

It features more than 60 emerging and established artists from all over the world, including more than 60 newer commissions, 280 artefacts and more than 15 exhibited works never before for art work.

9.    Turbine Art Fair

It is a Johannesburg-based fair that runs over a weekend in the city's center and is among the most accessible South Africa's fairs. It places a higher emphasis on newer works and works from developing artists in South Africa. It adopts a strong supporting and educational role, making it a significant counter to the nationwide calendar.

10.    Abu Dhabi Art

This fair has a program that allows international and local artists to capture a larger audience and portray installations with distinguished narratives across the city and at Manarat Al Saadiyat .

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