Identity In Art

Identity In Art

Essay:

Signs and symbols are the foundation of visual language, just as the alphabet is the foundation of written language. Signs and symbols can represent something through association, resemblance, or convention. They are part of our everyday lives, no matter where we go or what we are doing it is signs and symbols that guide us along. They can also play a vital role in many diverse cultures, standing for something of importance. For an artist to be successful they require the audience to process the signs and symbols within their artworks for them to receive and understand the correct message. Jean-Michael Basquiat, Trevor Nickolls and Ben Quilty all use this technique through a range of their works to convey a specific message to their audience or to manipulate who their audience actually are.

Jean-Michael Basquiat, born December 22nd 1960 and died August 12th 1988, was an American artist who became the worlds first international art star of African descent. Starting of as a graffiti artist in New York City he then in the 80’s moved on to become a Neo-Expressionist artist. Signs and symbols were one of Basquiat’s main techniques used to convey his messages, emotions and background. Basquiat achieved this through the use of text, stylised figures and colour. He also uses his own unique iconography along with figures of traditional African Diaspora to show his traditional cultural background. With references to street culture and graffiti Basquiat uses these techniques and styles to break down social and cultural barriers within his audiences, allowing him express his messages around the world.

          Basquiat’s work “Untitled (boxer)” (1982)shows the audience his traditional heritage of Africa, with the uses of the main focal point being a traditional African Diaspora with boxing gloves symbolic of his cultural background when they had to migrate to America. The use of colour also emphasises this message with the figure being painted black...