Analysing Conceptualism in the Twenty-First Century
When looking at art, viewers are often taught to search for the meaning hidden within the imagery, rather than being encouraged to consider the significance the piece had to the maker. This is often because the viewer brings his or her cultural capital to the reading, and attempts to understand or construct meaning from an arbitrary viewpoint. So, how is he or she expected to empathise properly with artists, to fully understand what they are trying to say? While observing art, should we ask ourselves: ‘How has the artist’s experience, culture and history been constructed in this work?’ as opposed to ‘How do the images link back to the original concept and artist’s history, and what do they represent?’
I believe that art is a personal statement and a representation of an artist’s journey which provides an insight into the ideologies that he or she may hold. More often than not, the works become about whom they represent rather than what; in turn the subjects can reveal more about an artist’s life and opinions than can a self-portrait.
Artist Vernon Ah Kee uses his culture and heritage to create works that deal with the issues facing Australian Indigenous cultures in contemporary society.
As a regional, urban Indigenous Australian, Ah Kee and his family have experienced and witnessed the numerous racial conflicts that have taken place throughout Australia’s history. Ah Kee references past racial conflicts in his oeuvre, using them to express the relevance they still have in a post-colonial society.
Because racism is a large issue within the Australian community, viewers may read Ah Kee’s artworks as predominately political statements, rather than personal or emotional responses to experience. His... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline
