The efficacy of altermodern cross-border concepts in selected contemporary African artworks

A visual investigation

Bibliographic Data

ID8364264
AuthorsNathani Lüneburg (0009-0001-5235-9758, University of South Africa (Unisa) and an award-winning practising video artist., corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume49
Issue89
Pages18-38
Publication date2014-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
Venuede arte (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0004-3389 • E-ISSN: 2471-4100
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00043389.2014.11877197
OpenAlexW2278704848
LanguageEN
References cited18

Altermodernism is a global theory created by French art critic and curator, Nicolas Bourriaud. This theory argues that contemporary art illustrates cross-border interactions and portrays global environments; it uses concepts such as alterglobalisation, hypermobility, cultural hybridisation, cultural nomadism, diaspora and displacement. This article provides a critique of the efficacy of these altermodern cross-border concepts in selected contemporary African artworks. The value of these concepts is examined by measuring them against related cultural theories by Arjun Appadurai (2006), Manuel Castells (1999), Geoffrey Pleyers (2010) and Jan Nederveen Pieterse (2006). The article also investigates the state of contemporary African art by visually analysing the narrative of the aftermath of colonialism on the continent, as evident in selected artworks displayed at three prominent art exhibitions: the ‘Africa Remix’ (2007), the ‘Dak'Art Biennial’ (2012) and the ‘FNB Joburg Art Fair’ (2013). Central to this study are postcolonial topics such as anticolonial nationalism, diaspora and refugees. The selected artworks are analysed in line with the theories of the following critics and curators: Okwui Enwezor (1999, 2008a, 2008b), Simon Njami (2007), Achille Mbembe (1992, 2007), Chika Okeke (2001) and Dipesh Chakrabarty (2000). The conclusion of this analysis proposes a paradox: several selected African artworks relate to altermodernism superficially; however, the study also identifies a gap between altermodernism and the postcolonial context of the selected artworks

Aesthetics · African art · Art · Art history · Colonialism · Contemporary art · Context (archaeology) · Diaspora · Exhibition · Literature · Narrative · Nationalism · Performance art · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Value (mathematics) · Visual arts · African history and culture studies · Anthropology · Art, Politics, and Modernism · Cultural Industries and Urban Development · Gender Studies · History

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