CHALLENGING EURO CENTRIC AND WESTERN ART

THE ART OF ZAK OVE

A CHANGING WORLD 

Zak Ove's art is often concerned with the white dominance over African Culture and Peoples.  He ask you to question also with thought and deep inquiry by presenting you with images that challenge how you view the world and the media that presents a Western and Eurocentric view. His art is intelligent and commanding, it smacks you right in the face of any hidden prejudice and opens your eyes to a world you may not have seen if he had not pulled back the veil of ignorance.

Elizabeth Gordon, RMS.

ZAK OVE    from google for educational purposes only

When I was looking at Zak's work it brought me back to something that had happened when I was teaching at Nina Harris Exception Child Center in Florida.  Our population of students were trainable, educable and profound..along with autistic, multi handicapped, and other.  The students graduated at 19 and went on to group centers if they were capable.  One day there was a big commotion in the front office as I was walking through and there stood an African American young man about 19 or 20 who had painted himself completely white.  I was told he was a  past student, and somehow manages once or twice a year to catch a bus and then walk to his old school....and he is always covered in white paint.  They said he watched tv and saw all the people on the commercials, in movies and tv shows were white.  He just wanted to be white to be like them and have  what they had!

This is what our media has done to a whole population of people.  It has completely ignored a way of life and culture that exists in this country due to bias financial interest.  That story happened in the 1980's, and it has changed some, but only a bit.  What Zak's art points out to us is that it hurts people, it hurts kids, adults, and families and it hurts whole countries and continents!  I think he is an artist that is important and one that we should watch and support.  

zak ove, London artist             from google only for educational purposes only

IS AFRICAN ART THE NEW TREND?

        ZAK OVE              NEW ART TRENDING

                    London based artist of Trinidadian heritage

In an article I read recently from MSN, the art world believes that wealthy buyers in Africa are wanting to buy and support local, home grown artist.  Some of the most recent shows in London have supported that trend. A look at some of the artists that are being looked at, is worthy of our interest as well.  African art and art style has been of interest to artist for a long time.  Picasso based a good bit of his ideas of cubism and other art on the African style and culture.  Europe long looked at the world of African art with interest, but always with the eye of of being Eurocentric:white artists, copying African style. 

Zak Ove  Changing World            from google for education only

One of the new artists of interest is Ove.  He is London born, but has a Father of Trinidadian heritage and an Irish Mother.  In his younger years he went on movie sets and did filming with his Father.  His interest are in video, photography and now developing into fine art. He delves into the subject of a white dominated world and its effects on black people and culture.  He looks at the European centered world in contrast to the African struggle to attain stable government, respect, and financial stability.

Zak Ove   London based Artist
google image only for educational purposes

"The trend is spurred by wealthy Africans supporting home-grown talent and European collectors searching for the next big thing. Several London galleries focused on African art have opened in the past few years, the flagship Tate Modern has set up an African acquisitions committee, and this year's sale of African art at the auction house Bonhams has passed the 1 million pound ($1.6 million) mark.

London's Somerset House is hosting the 1:54, the British capital's inaugural contemporary African art fair, this week. And the mood there is buoyant.

"People are caring more in the press, collectors are opening their doors, and museums are showing more African artists," said Mariane Lenhardt, whose Seattle-based M.I.A Gallery is selling fierce-looking, nail-studded busts by London-based sculptor Zak Ove."

Bonhams auctioneer Giles Peppiatt, whose annual Africa Now auction took in a record 1.3 million pounds ($2.1 million) this year, said he has never seen so much interest." Msn 

Zak Ove    London Based Artist                         from google image for educational purposes only

If I were still teaching art I would certainly choose Zak's work to build a lesson or series of lessons around.  His multi-media approach lends to the ability to do many projects with children and his topics are excellent to build tolerance, understanding and acceptance.  There is a decided lack of coverage of African and Black artist in art history and in the training of young art educators.  I think it is important that we correct this, and pay attention to the art of all people and culture.  The art world had been long dominated by European and Western art, it is time to be more inclusive. 

Welcome Burundi!!!

untitled painting by Jean Ayan/Burundi           google image

Wow, it is so nice to see you checking us out.  We really look forward to finding out more about Burundi and its arts and culture. Please check out this site on African art called African Colours.(click)

Nigerian and African Art and Culture

I am putting two website links for Nigeria, one is historic and one is present day contemporary artists. I am put to mind of Picasso, African influence was paramount for him. Many artists draw from the African culture and art either consciously or not. We owe much to Africa and Nigeria for the rich historic influence of their art and culture.

Remember these websites are clickable in the right hand column websites of interest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_art

http://www.the-art-world.com/art-nigeria.htm

MONTREAL MUSEUM OF ART

There a few cities one can fall in love with immediately, but Montreal was one of those special places for me. My partner had gone of a conference for Association of Death Education and Counseling. The conference was held at the Elizabeth Hotel. It was in spring after Montreal had a really rough winter with lots of snow. The tulips were peaking out when we arrived and in full bloom by the end of the week. I was taken with this beautiful city, with lovely architecture and a strong sense of history. The food, wine and restaurants were wonderful. We went to many galleries and I was impressed with the quality of art they carried. We also went to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was an expose of Cuban Art that was being held at the time. It is not something the United States would have carried and I felt fortunate to see current Cuban Artists. There was also a wonderful collection of African Mask and statues. It may have been a permanent part of the Museum collection, but it gave me an idea for a series of work that I would like to do with conceptual art. I would rant and rave about other Canadian cities, but Montreal is the only place I have been in Canada. I am looking forward to more experiences and exposure to more art and artist with our neighbors to the North.

Here is the website of the Montreal Museum of Art, and it is also listed in a clickable form on the right hand column, websites of interest.

http://www.mmfa.qc.ca/en/index.html