Towards the Creation of Contemporary African Landscape Art
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18533/jah.v11i05.2278Keywords:
African Landscape Art, Earth, Tree ringsAbstract
Landscape refers to all the physical natural features of an area. These features have been changing under the influence of natural forces and human activities. They have been depicted by artists across the world over time as landscape art, and can provide a basis for historical inquiry. Landscape art has also been used as a tool to express fears of increased industrialization and ecological disasters. However, the representation of the landscape in Africa is mainly impressionistic without any implicit ideology. This study therefore aims to use landscape art as a tool to call attention to the problems of the physical African landscape, especially changes due to degradation and fragmentation of the land. To achieve this, the study innovates the use of parched earth and tree rings. Locally sourced red earth was applied over wood canvas and exposed to heat from portable electric heater. This resulted in similar natural parched earth patterns, over which was then applied the tree rings pattern using concentrated acrylic. This creation encompasses ideas about the land and drought, to deviate from the typical images of landscape painting in Africa, often depicting imaginary scenery.
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