piclet.org

Project Description

In my series of portraits Emissaries of an Iconic religion I attempt to offer a visual context of interpretation by hopefully creating dialogue in re-presenting an indigenous philosophical thought system that exist in most west african spaces in syncretic and hybridized forms. In Africa, belief systems provide a context for choice and definition while also functioning as a basis for solidarity and community. My main consideration was to attempt to create images that capture the subject in its natural/original setting in a timeless fashion that harks to the enduring importance and historical relevance to african society of diviners. In this attempt to create images that can be considered timeless(in style, composition, content and context), I employed devices similar to those found in victorian portraiture, gesturing to the argument that questions the fact that there ex- ist original philosophical thought systems in Africa. This work was shown at The TATE Modern London in July 2011 and it triggered in-depth discourse as relates to the topic "Contested Terrains" which was the theme of the exhibition.