Unseen Art Scene (mirror)

Image: Afrikan Rejects | ID Cards by MONA Recently, I went to the Cezanne Exhibition in London and was reminded on how the Modern Art Movement was created. At the time all important artists had to be accepted by "Le Salon" in Paris but Cezanne and his friends, Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir et al were all rejected from "Le Salon". The artists were so angry about this they created a Movement called "Le Salon Rejects". With this in mind I have attempted to start a Movement called the "Afrikan Rejects". It was founded in Camden Market last Saturday by the artist, Mona and myself. I am presently in conversation with African artists worthy of rejection. I have written an article about this and would like to know what your thoughts are on this rather controversial matter. These are truly exciting times to be an African artist. Here is the article. Afrikan Rejects We live in a post 9/11 World and today we all exist within these unhealthy insane environments ac...

The work of Anselm Keifer for the first time quite clearly complements the art from West African. Creating impressively huge pieces of artwork in bright white established gallery spaces. In fact, in established galleries who are respectively and ironically rejecting the creativity of the West African. The ideas you will see over the coming years will have a direct link with the work that has been produced by West African artists and artists throughout Africa. What is highly amusing is that the origins of these techniques, ideas and creativity will thankfully never be accepted by the established art world. West African artists, especially from Togo and Benin are healing and developing the world through their celebration of origin and their greater understanding of self. Let us give the Afrikan Rejects their credit. Their work needs to be mentioned at this time so we can make reference to this bizarre comment. Keifer's work has a direct correlation with the work being produced by imp...

Everything begins with Alexander Skunder Boghassian 1937-2003. Undeniably one of the best artists in the world. Skunder has been 5 years dead but little has changed since his passing. He lived life to the full and died drunk and penniless. His constant rejection should be his legacy. In 1965, Boghassian became the first contemporary African artist to have work purchased by the Museum of Modern Art in New York; his paintings are also in the collections of the National Musuem of Africa Art in Washington DC and the Musee d'Art Moderne in Paris. Skunder's work pushed the boundaries of art and after seeing a Bonham's catalogue, Exploration, Travel and Topographical Pictures held on Wednesday 21st May 2008 and seeing "The Eye in the Mirror" by this wonderful artist with a guide price of £1,500-£2000 it was then it hit me. We need to create an Artistic Movement. One that denotes the reality of what is happening. The African artists are really being rejected. Rejected by ...

Independent.co.uk Black is finally in fashion at Vogue By Ian Johnston and Photini Philippidou Sunday, 27 April 2008 It's an open secret in the fashion industry: black models rarely get jobs on catwalks, in magazines and on billboards. According to executives, they do not inspire women to spend money. Apart from Naomi Campbell in one Louis Vuitton advertisement this season, it would be difficult to find a single black model in a prominent position in a magazine. Carole White of the Premier Model Agency says she has received casting briefs requesting "no ethnics" and adds: "According to magazines, black models don't sell." The leading British photographer Nick Knight says: "The fashion industry and the advertising industry are steeped in racism. You just have to look around at the number of black girls you see in ads – virtually nil. Among the main fashion brands, they are completely under-represented. It's shocking and atrocious." Mr Knight bla...

The Fire Fountain by Jean-Paul Riopelle Today I am thinking about the importance of Public Art and what it means to the general public. Here is what Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia has to say on the subject. The term public art properly refers to works of art in any media that has been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited or staged in the public domain, usually outside and accessible to all. The term is especially significant within the art world, amongst curators, commissioning bodies and practitioners of public art, to whom it signifies a particular working practice, often with implications of site specificity, community involvement and collaboration. The term is sometimes also applied to include any art which is exhibited in a public space including publicly accessible buildings. The Scope of Public Art Monuments, memorials and civic statuary are perhaps the oldest and most obvious form of officially sanctioned public art, although it could be said that ...

George Hughes called this afternoon and we spoke about his new video on Youtube. Originally from Ghana, George now lives and works in the USA. He is probably one of the most exciting artists in the world and certainly one of most original. Take a look at his video it fuses dance, music and painting together with some remote controlled vehicles thrown in for good measure.....