While reading the ‘The Art of Illusion’ page, 291, I came across this quote…
‘ I believe it is only by considering these psychological aspects of image making and image reading that we may come closer to an understanding of the central problem of the history of art, that is why representation should have a history, (Gombrich,1990).
As artists I think that the above quote is expressing, ‘we bear witness through the self-expression of making art’. #loleithaart.
During my second year, I was involved in a project with the ISCRE Leadership Academy. This programme was designed to encourage and support young Black boys while in Ks3 of their school journey.
My part was that, I held an art class of 13 boys, I chose a role model from society and one which was in the media that the boys would all know and hear very good reports of… Nelson Mandela, a strong man that had overcome obstacles with grace and peace. I set tasks for them 3 tables of 4/5 .
1st table was drawing Mandela the iconic figure and learning 5 facts about him. The 2nd table focused on self-portraits and then they drew each other which brought about some funny characters and some not so easy portraits. I was able to notice that not everyone was able to depict or approach the task on themselves positively. But we had breakthrough nevertheless. And the 3rd table worked on creating their very own cast to take home. Picture above.
This work was titled ‘we can achieve much.’
I used that line to get the boys attention during the class; it’s what I had learned during my micro teaching sessions while on my PTTLS course, I was completing it at the same time as working part-time at the local charity ISCRE and at Uni.
My paintings are depicting the young boy and man being ‘focused’ and achieving much with their natural skill set. Seeing and focusing on who they are perceived in the mirror and not what society and the media illustrates. #identity, #perceptions. #loleithaart.
While researching, I found this amazing artist Kehinde Wiley; his work speaks for itself truly. He depicted a series about young Black men. Wiley is an African-American artist, born 1977. His contemporary large-scale paintings illustrate, erotic poses, using figurative poses and reference from the Old Masters.
Wiley cleverly uses the traditional style of painting and blends his kudos of urban hip hop styles, and also displays his West African heritage to illustrate power and heroic mannerisms in his cultural lens. His models are people /men/youth from the street; specifically, Harlems 12th Street and from where he was born the South Central neighbourhood, New York.
Kehinde Wiley art, taken from a series of his works.
