Ndoye’s focuses on the people from his homeland in Senegal and those who are around him in the diverse community of Jersey City. Ndoye’s work includes a variety of mediums from canvas, paints, to acrylic, glass, and what I found the most interesting was his use of textiles. In most of his paintings he used a unique technique of patch work which is the mixing of textiles by “patching” together pieces of all different types and sizes to create one piece. Ndoye is inspired by those around him those people being the ones from both places he considers home. He was able to visualize and replicate the daily tasks people would do either alone or in groups weather that was people just having fun, performing and even sharing food and drink. He even used some of his own personal family experiences as a way to also transmit these emotions and traditions through his work. I love that he was able to capture moments of everyday life and find a way to lace it together with embracing his own culture while sharing with other’s what African culture is. I was able to learn a lot because I feel that the best way we learn is through seeing images and seeing Ndoye’s beautiful paintings shows us how people truly live everyday and by learning and knowing how people live we learn what they value, what customs they have and we learn the ins and outs of their culture and that is how we truly get to absorb and see others through a different lens.
In Gbadebo’s work she focuses on the DNA and the physical roots of the people that are of African descent. Her work mostly consists of actual human hair from people who have either donated it to her or that she had collected from hair salons. I was shocked to see that she used real human hair something I wouldn’t even think twice about considering as a medium or tool to use in art but I was surprised to see how successful she was both in making art with hair and getting her message across. Other mediums she used were also printing techniques by using Silkscreen and even gluing physical braids of hair or fuzzball pieces of hair to her artwork. Gbadebo’s work addressed many serious issues that we still struggle with today in society such as discrimination, hardships that past generations have faced and trying to erase the negative stigma towards natural hair. One work I found interesting was called “Am I still Dreadful” where the artist had taken combed out dreadlocks of a friend she knew and as a way to spread awareness about the actual root of the word “Dreadloc” and that it was actually a word used negatively by slave owners to describe the hair of the African slaves. The artist was making a point by taking this unknotted dreadloc hair and placing it back into a circle almost into a lock shape and making the viewer think now that this hair is free, is it still dreadful? I really thought this was a clever way to make the viewer think of the history of such terms and how the past really can reflect what we think in the present.
Both Gallery shows both bring to light the past and present of African culture and the desire to have a better insight on the culture. Ndoye’s paintings show that we can all get along in harmony by working together and taking the time to learn about one another through simple daily acts. Gbadebo’s collection of hair shows the struggles and desires of a generation of Africans both in the past, present and future to gain freedom and independence.
“Technologies like film, television, and radio were not just a daily feature of the daily lives of a young generation they had become an intergral part of how one understood the world.” (Seeing Power Pg. 8)
I feel as if the quote relates somewhat to Nboye’s work because in his painting he depicts real day to day activities, reminding us of how simple life used to be without technologies and this quote brings to light that now in our generation there isn’t one person who can live without technology or even utilizing it for something necessary because we all watch TV, listen to the radio or are checking our smartphones all the time. In Ndoye’s work he reminds of the old ways people used to be entertained and that was being in tune with those around you and with nature.
“The role of culture must be taken seriously and that deploying it for the needs of social change can produce wonderous results.” (Seeing Power Pg. 1)
I feel that the role of culture really was highlighted in Gbadebo’s work because she pushes the normal boundaries of what art is and uses a medium most wouldn’t even think to use as a way to make a point and show people that the past is just as important as our present and what we foresee in the future. Making that change and pushing these social issues by making art that goes outside the box is what we need to keep inspiring others and to continue the message for many years.
“I went from being an artist that makes things, to an artist that makes things happen” (Seeing Power Pg 32)
This quote is important because everyone makes excuses that “Oh I don’t have time” or “I don’t have the money for this” but all you really need is a little bit of dedication to start something. Both Ndoye and Gbadebo had to start from the bottom. They are both hard working artists and made it so far to the point that they are showcasing their work in art galleries. Their artwork alone is making people think and even inspiring other people to start making things happen by getting behind their message and continuing the legacy.
My “Self Portrait” isn’t of myself but of a model that I saw
with some interesting makeup and I decided to draw her being as I really liked
her expression and how the makeup was dripping off her face. I purposely cropped
the top and bottom of her face because to me this calm yet sad expression reminded
me of her face almost being like a “mask”. A mask that someone would wear if
they are trying to hide mental illness or depression even, that they try so hard
to put on a smile yet inside they are suffering or crying on the inside and so
badly want to let it out. It reminded me of myself somedays where I try to put
on a smile or wear a “mask” for others yet deeply inside Id rather just be left
alone. I’ve been inspired a lot lately to draw women who are in distress or are
truly in a vulnerable state because as women we shouldn’t be ashamed to show
those parts of us and rather own up to our emotions and not be afraid to
express how we feel and that hopefully one day maybe none of us will need a “mask”
to cover up anything.
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