Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Wednesday's Artist of the World (No. 3)...

Today we are off to.....MALI.

Country-Mali:
Mali, also officially known as the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked nation that is located in West Africa. Mali is very much so a developing nation and is one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite that, Mali has some of the most amazing sites that include four UNESCO World-Heritage sites: the Cliffs of Bandiagara, Djenne, Timbuktu, and the Tomb of Askia in Gao. Mali's history has always included the dramatic landscapes of both the vast desert and rivers. For example, the lucrative trade routes of the Sahara had at one point in history, made Mali one of the richest regions in the world. The northern landscape of Mali is encompassed within the stunning Sahara desert--the largest desert on the planet, while the southern part of the nation features the Niger and Senegal River. It is definitely a nation that is filled with unique history, full of colour, dramatic landscape and so much more.



Djenne Mosque.




Timbuktu, Mali.





Artist-Abdoulaye Konaté:
Abdoulaye Konaté was born in 1953 in Diré, Mali. He had studied painting in Bamako, Mali and then in Havana, Cuba. In his work Abdoulaye Konaté combines his painting skills with installation to make powerful commentary on such issues as political and environmental affairs. In the 1990's his work focused on the issue of encroachment of the Sahel. While some of his current pieces deal with the effects of AIDS on individuals as well as society as a whole. However, Abdoulaye Konaté questioning the political, social and economical aspects of contemporary Mali is visible in how AIDS, war, human rights and globalization affects all aspects of life within both individuals and the society as a whole. Most of Abdoulaye Konaté larger scale work is made from textile-based materials which is a medium that is more readily available than paints.



Gris-gris for Israel and Palestine (2005)




L'Initiation, 2004
Installation, 7 parts, textiles, mixed media
265 x 180 cm

No comments: