Harlem Renaissance

So this blog is my short, yet oh so sweet ode to the Harlem Renaissance artist, Malvin Johnson. No I'm not talking about Langston Hughes or Zora Neale Hurston. This is about the painters, the sculptors, and etc. When I learned about the Harlem Renaissance my sophomore year in high school, we just focused on the writers and how they influenced the world of literature. James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and Duke Ellington always get the praise and noteworthy attention, that no one ever stops to think about other African Americans who played a role in the Harlem Renaissance. For these individuals their canvas illustrated their stories and their thoughts. And yet, we hardly ever hear about them or their work. But that is about to change, starting with this blog. The artist that I'm blogging about today is Malvin Gray Johnson and his painting titled Negro Soldier. This painting is so simple, but the historical back story is what makes this painting so interesting. The broad shouldered soldier seems proud and very confident. The light colors that surround the soldier, give him an omniscient glow and makes him even more intriguing. He looks like any soldier that fought long and hard for freedom and democracy. However, unlike most soldiers in the 1920s, this black soldier isn't necessarily free nor does he feel like he lives in democratic society. This what makes this painting so interesting. You have his black soldier who probably felt more free and alive in Europe while he was being shot at than he ever did at home. His physique and lighting around him make him seem strong and brave and yet for a soldier who was on the winning side, his facial expression seems so complacent and lacks joy. But who would want to smile exuberantly knowing that you are not too inferior to die next to a white man,but too inferior to live like one.

image:www.tfaoi.com/cm/7cm/7cm51.jpg

Shamed Face Woman

This painting really stuck out to me. It's one of those paintings that is simple, but has a complex meaning behind it. The woman in the painting is so beautiful and ugly at the same time. Her face is calm and yet her and body language suggest that she is in a state of disarray. Her shame does not leap out of the canvas immediately,but I can tell by the look on her face, that she is contemplating what she is about do or just did. I like the painting because it is so easy to relate to. There are many things that I have done that I feel shameful about so I feel that this painting relates to me. It's like a song that you hear on radio and the lyrics fit your life or particular situation to a tee. This is what that painting is to me. I like how realistic the woman is and the situation that is as well.

image:photobucket.com

WE WEAR THE MASK

When I'm not looking at or blogging about political propaganda, I like to look at African American art. It is something that is very near and dear to my heart. African American art is very powerful and thought provoking and deal with various things that deal with the black community. This piece of African American that I' am blogging about to today reminds me of a Paul Laurence Dunbar poem titled We Wear the Mask. The poem is about how people put up this facade or mask to hide their pain and malcontent with world because the rest of the world won't be able to relate. The painting has a young African American male pealing off the white mask that once adorned his face. I think that this painting picks up where the Dunbar poem left off. In the painting, the man is finally able to take off the mask and be himself and be free. This painting represents where we are as a society are today. We are no longer afraid to voice our concerns,malcontent,etc. Now whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is entirely another. I think that this painting correlates perfectly with Dunbar's poem.

Image:http://www.artnsoulgallery.com

How to Slaughter the Opposition Through Art...

So, this blog focuses on how political parties use art to rally their respective sides. I find this form of propaganda very interesting. Political parties have been using art, political cartoons, commericals,etc to discredit their opponents. They all serve the same purpose, but they are done through a different medium. Most political propaganda conveyed through artwork, is usually about rallying the country and uniting as one...or at least that's what the people who release them claim. These two pictures so how artwork are be used to unify their political base. It shows how far art has come how those in the political sphere are using it to draw more attention to their platform. The first picture is of fmr. VP Dick Cheney with and oil mustache and the phrase 'Got Oil'? written across his forehead. This picture or ad pokes fun at Bush Administration and what many believe to be the real reason for the Iraq War. The second picture plays on the fears of the relations of between Iran and the U.S.A. The top of the picture is adorned with Pres. Barack Obama's famous catch phrase 'Yes, We Can!' I'm sure many of you are comtemplating if this is real art. I think it is. It may not have been painted, sculpted,etc, but it conveys an emotion or thought just like art. This form of art is not really done by artist per say,but it has an agenda just like the art hanging up in your local art museum. It wants the viewer to stop and think or it just might piss you off...nonetheless I think these poster can be consider art and I think that they represent where propaganda through the form of art is going.

Images: google images

Vladimir Lenin: Gateway to the Russian Revolution

Vladimir Lenin is known as the father of Communism. The noble man who was all about, the proletarians and a new way to strengthen Russia. This image of Lenin may not be a painting, but is art nonetheless. The poster was created by Shepard Fairey, you might recognize or know him for his posters of President Barack Obama. I like this poster because it is very simple and straight to the point unlike other political artwork, that you have to do some research on to understand the meaning. It's not trying to convince a group of people of anything. It is more of an ode to a man who made bold move(whether or not you agree with Lenin's political ideology is another thing). The poster is mostly blue and red with Lenin looking out into the unknown and the year 1917(the year the Russian Revolution took place) dwells above him. It nice poster that honors an influential man and it also showcases Fairey's other artwork.

Getting Back On Track...

So my blogs WERE suppose to be about propaganda artwork and how it impacts a generation and culture. This piece of artwork comes from the American printing press and takes jab at our good ol' pal, Adolf Hitler. The poster depicts Hitler with his pants down revealing his swastika covered boxers and beneath him lay tons of bombed Panzer tankers. This poster shows how art can be used to boost the morale of a country. It took aim at the German army and gave the American army hope that if they kept on fighting that they would find Germany's weak spot and eventually win the war. Most propaganda art can be misleading but this one is kind of inspiring and based on how WWII played out, I guess the Allies did find Hitler and his army with their panzers down.

Image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Ww2_poster_oct0404.j

Zhong Biao's Absolute Happiness

I am a really huge fan of Zhong Biao's artwork. He takes social and cultural changes that are slowly but surely happening in China and incorporates it into his work. Biao gives his viewers a glimpse into a world that has been shrouded in mystery and into a country that gives many Americans a sense of uneasiness. This piece of artwork is titled Absolute Happiness. The painting blends the old China with the new China and where it is headed. The old China is reflected in an old statue that lacks color and is sort of a backdrop or piece of a background. The man, the child, and naked woman steal the spot light from the statue. All three seem to be jumping for joy for some unkown reason. The child undoubtly steals the spotlight from the rest of the figures in the painting. She is bigger and very colorful. I think that this child represents the youthfulness of China and how colorful and vibrant China is becoming. The new China is trendy and exciting and more inviting. This painting by Biao represents all these things. It is his personal critique of what he sees happening in his country. I like it. It's very thought provoking and it total different side of China. I think it's better than the side of China that we got to see doing the 2008 Summer Games because that could have been a fascade,but this painting isn't.