The Commodification of Africa

 

Ink Jet Print

10.5" x 24"

2014

 

Throughout the semester, we have talked a lot about the interest the Western World has in Africa and how capitalism plays a big part in the commoditization of traditional African goods. For this project, I aim to display an exaggerated view of how traditional African artworks are becoming mainstream and mass consumed. Being inspired by the works of Yinka Shonibare, I wanted to juxtapose the customary Inkra and Akan textiles with a landscape that oozes capitalism, New York City. Also influenced by Melinda Gibson's "The Photograph as Contemporary Art", I wanted to collage bits and pieces of one photograph to another. Making sure the primary photograph was still identifiable, I made the overlapping images more transparent; this also adds to the message that African art is slowly being absorbed by western culture. The organic fluidity of Akan and Inkra Textiles compared to the fit and organized structure of New York City makes for an interesting visualization of the problem at hand while also demonstrating the difference between rural and urban economies. Once being a unique and foreign part of the world, Africa, along with it's art, is becoming a part of the capitalist culture in western civilization.