MY PERSPECTIVE

Growing up in West Africa in the 80’s, there was a distinct lack of any cultural “local” artifacts in any self respecting African’s home. I also noticed how my comments of “wanting to furnish my house with the wicker chairs” (particularily those sold on the sides of the roads) constantly fell to deaf ears and curious stares. This of course lead me to believe that this is a definite lack of appreciation of our heritage, another issue the colonists have left us...blah blah blah...Roll on 20years and suddenly you can’t help notice the avant garde pieces of FANTASTIC art poignantly placed in almost every home! Suddenly, Africans are name dropping some local talent and the cost...yes, there is ‘loud’ murmurs of thousands of dollars that has been spent, and “how expensive ‘A’s art costs and “how prices change depending on who is purchasing.” So did we learn to appreciate our own culture...hmm not sure about all of that. What I am sure of is that the quality and finish has vastly improved. Gone are the art pieces of African Heads and Salad forks targeted to the tourists and africans living abroad. Gallery spaces as sought after , champagne and canapes are served at Art exhibitions and a swarm of “who’s who” in society are ever present. There is a huge movement in our art and we are shouting it LOUD and shouting it PROUD!!