Non-Western Art of Africa,
Oceana, South America and Asia
Visual Art II 2013
Western vs. Non-western
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Both images depict a portrait of a Maori chieftain, one by the chieftain himself
(left) and one by a European artist (right).
Both show his facial tattoos, however the European artist, John Sylvester,
shows the head and shoulders and downplays the graphic elements of the
tattoos. He also portrays the king as an English gentleman with western style
clothes and hair style. The chieftain, Te Pehi Kupe, chose to highlight the stark
shapes and design of the tattoos while undermining the human features. In his
self-portrait, the King portrays himself in a more basic form and less linked to
the westernized culture.
Western vs. Non-western
Western Regions
• Europe
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–
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England
France
Germany
Spain
• North America
– United States
– Canada
Non-western Regions
• Middle East
– Isreal
– Iraq
– Afghanistan
• Africa
• Australia (aboriginal),
New Zealand
• South America
• Asia
African Art
African Art: Kente
• Kente is one of many original fabric designs created by
African artists.
• Fabric is an important part of African culture because
clothing can express social status, ethnic identity.
Colors are also used to tell stories and represent
spiritual symbols.
• Kente originated in Ghana in the twelfth century, and
was worn by kinds queens and important figures
during ceremonial events.
• Today Kente is often worn in the US to represent
African-American heritage and it is printed worldwide.
African Art: Kente
One of many unique Kente cloth designs
Ashanti king in Kente cloth
African Art: Adire
• Adire fabric was originally made by the Yoruba
women in Nigeria.
• Adire patterns are characterized by squared
grids, with solid, flat, organic shapes.
African Art: Mud Cloth
• Unlike royal Kente cloth mud cloth designs
were originally created by poor, rural
craftsmen in Mali.
• Mud cloth is now considered a symbol of
national identity for Mali.
• The fabric is called mud cloth because
patterns were originally made by painting
cloth with iron rich mud.
African Art: Mud Cloth
African Art: Bamileke
• The Bamileke people immortalize images of
Africa’s past through their ceremonial art and
masks.
• In traditional ceremonies a dancer wears an
elephant mask to symbolize strength and
energy.
• Beaded Bamileke animal masks are stylized
but maintain organic natural forms.
African Art: Bamileke
African Influence
• Faith Ringgold is an
African-American artist
who’s art is heavily
influenced by African
art and fabrics. They
share as stylized form
and medium. Like a lot
of African art, her quits
tell stories through
images.
Aboriginal Art
Aboriginal Art
• Aborigines are the native people of Australia.
• Their art is characterized by interlocking
shapes and stylized images.
• Aboriginal art is very different from western
art styles. It involves different perspectives,
shapes, and methods.
• Despite European settlement in the region,
Aboriginal art has survived into modern times.
Aboriginal Art: Natural Mediums
Natural pigments used to dye and paint natural surfaces
Aboriginal Art: Patterns
• Aboriginal art of ten is characterized by earth
tones, images shown from above or in profile,
and simple organic shapes.
• They also often involve repeated patterns,
with concentric circles and horizontal lines.
These patterns represent different symbols of
the aboriginal culture and history.
• Images are often hidden within the seemingly
simple shapes.
Aboriginal Art: Patterns
Aboriginal Art: X-Ray Style
• X-Ray style of Aboriginal art was developed to
show the every aspect of the artist subject. In
addition to outlining the basic shape inner
parts of animals and people may also be
included in the image.
Aboriginal Art: Journeys
• Aboriginal Art often depicts a journey or acts as a sort of map.
• Multiple focal points, and overhead point of view are used to
act as a guide.
Aboriginal Influence
• Keith Haring is an
American artist that
was heavily
influenced by
Aboriginal art. His
work uses similar
shapes and repeated
patterns to create
symbolic images.
Chinese Art
Chinese Art
• Chinese art is one of the oldest and most unique
types of non-western art. Its influence has been
shown throughout many centuries around the
world.
• Sculpture was the earliest of the Chinese art
forms, however, during the Han dynasty when
paper was invented paining became more
prominent.
• During the early Tang dynasty paintings were
mostly lifelike, realistic, detailed figures depicting
royal life in what was called court style
Chinese Art: Court Style
Chinese Portraits during the Court
Style period in art – Ching Dynasty
Only the members of the court were
In this manner, Emphasis was on
Attempting to create a likeness so
The people viewing the image would
Know it was the emporer
Althoug the emporer sat in front of
The artist –
Artists did not yet know how to use
Perspective, anatomy, foreshortening,
Chiaroscuro,
The figure is seen here as all important
As the background is a flat gold color
Artist unknown
DateMiddle Ages in Europe
Western Portaiture
1504-1912
Mona Lisa by Da Vinci- 1503- 1506
Drawn from life
Atmostpheric or aerial perspective
Chiaroscuro
Knowledge of Anatomy
Sfumato- blurring of edges so that the eyes, nose, mouth
And hands are in focus but as you go
Back in space the figure is softer – hence further
Away
The background is imaginary and does not
Match from the left to right side
Oil on Panel
Western Portraiture
Hans Holbein
Henry the VIII Oil on Panel
Baroque pd in Art –
What are at least four characterics that follow
The traditions of Western Art ?
Chinese Art: Subject Matter
• By the end of the Tang Dynasty the subject
matter of most Chinese paintings had been
narrowed to three main groups: figure,
landscape, and bird/flower paintings.
Scholar painting in Chinese Art
during the Yuan to Ming Dynasty
• Time frame is Yuan-1279-1368
•
Ming Dynasty- 1368-1644
These are sections
From handscrolls
Assymetrical
Ink and Color
No reference to
Background- flat
Lack of proportion
A Horse and Groom in Red Coat – Yuan Dynasty
Chinese Landscape Yuan and Tang
Dynasties
Lotus Pond and Waterfowl
Lotus represents hope and purity
Cranes symbolize good luck and long life
This painting is stylized ( abstracted ) and the background
Is flat
Hanging scroll ink and color
Chinese painting Ching dynasty
Chinese painters prefer to capture
The ESSENCE of a subject so many
Details are left out
They work from memory and
Enjoy the concept of uncluttered
Space
A well ordered garden symbolizes
Harmony in the universe
Certain plants symbolize virtues
Western Images of Nature: What are the characteristics that
make this a Western work of Art?
Albrecht Durer
The Great Piece of Turf
Watercolor
Northern Renaissance
Observation
Realism
Lighting
1503
Western VS Non Western
Spring Morning in the Han Palace
Ming Dynasty-1494- 1552
What is important to the artist? What is meant by hierarchical perspective?
Is there a light source, use of proportion, anatomy, or one point perspective?
This is painted on a scroll that unrolls to show each scene. What is the story
Behind this painting? Court life and every day activities .
Interior Northern Renaissance
Northern Renaissance Interior Painting
• http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/paintin
g-qiu-ying-han-palace.php
• Spring Morning in the Han Palace- Ming
Dynasty
• - 1494-1552
• ( Same time frame and the Italian
Renaissance)
Chinese Art: Natural Influence
• Later, Chinese Art was more centrally focused on
landscape as a subject matter.
• The popularity of vast landscapes came about after the
Tang Dynasty with the rise of Daoism. Daoism
considers humans to be a small part in the workings of
a complex and interactive natural world.
• These Dao influenced paintings are characterized by
intricate and large elements of nature, small figures,
open negative space, and flowing movement.
• Figures are often still a part of these paintings but are
fairly small and insignificant to highlight that humans
are a small part of a vast and ever-changing universe;
Chinese Art: Natural Influence
Chinese Art: Trends
• Chinese painting is fairly stylized in that most
paintings include vertical format, negative
space, repeated curves, eye-level point of
view, few lines and limited color schemes.
• These similarities give Chinese art a unique
look that has survived through ancient times
into the modern art world and characterized a
staple in Chinese culture.
Chinese Influence
• Huang Yan paints
faces in the style of
ancient Chinese
paintings. The work
contains the
traditional linear
landscape elements
in a contemporary
medium.
Stop -End of Study Part I for test
• The test for VA II will Part I on April 26
B day and April 29 A day
• Africa
• Aborigine
• China
• Western Culture- Characteristics of vs non
Western culture of the above
Islamic Art
Islamic Art
• Islam is not only a religion, but a way of life.
Nearly one in every four people in the world is
Muslim. Almost every work of a traditional
Muslim artist is an example of Islamic beliefs.
• Most Islamic art contains some sort of
calligraphy. Calligraphy is considered an are form
in itself since it expressed the word of
Allah(Arabic word for God).
• Islamic art is characterized by abstracted
patterns, flat geometric shapes contrasted by
organic curves, repetition and variation of patters
and a focal point.
Islamic Art: Architecture
“Decoration transforms the material from which the
mosque is constructed in the same way that
religion transforms the base matter of mankind.”
-Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque
• Since all Islamic life is based around Allah, much
of their art is found in and around religious
structures and mosques (Islamic places of
worship)
• Muslim architecture incorporates all elements of
Islamic art, including geometric patterns and
calligraphy
Islamic Art: Architecture
Islamic Art: Architecture
Islamic Art: Patterns
• Almost all Islamic art is made up of complex
abstract patterns that create a sense of unending
repetition, another reminder that Allah’s world is
infinite.
• There are three main types of Islamic patterns:
geometric patterns, plaint-like patterns, and
calligraphy.
• The massage of Islam is spread through Arabic
writing making calligraphy one of the most
important types of patterns in Islamic art and
culture
Islamic Art: Patterns and Calligraphy
Modern Islamic Art and Influence
• Many contemporary Muslim artist reinvent traditional
patterns and styles, such as (left to right) Shirin Neshat,
Ali Omar Salaam, and Shahzia Sikander
Mexican Muralists
Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, and
Jose Clemente Orozco
Diego Rivera
• Diego Rivera was a prominent Mexican painter and
husband of Frida Kahlo (1929–39 and 1940–54). His
large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican
Mural Movement in Mexican art. Between 1922 and
1953, Rivera painted murals among others in Mexico
City, Chapingo, Cuernavaca, San Francisco, Detroit, and
New York City. In 1931, a retrospective exhibition of his
works was held at the Museum of Modern Art in New
York City.
• Rivera’s murals were used as a way of storytelling and
depicting Mexican life. His art often incorporated
framing and symmetrical composition to highlight a
focal point. Usually set up horizontally his murals
included foreground, middle ground, and background.
Diego Rivera
“I want my murals to
reflect the life of the
Mexican people, as it was
and is now.”
-Diego Rivera