MyWeku

Part 2 of our series on African Art for the Home explores the use of “African Arts Projects” as a rich source for contemporary African Art décor. Folk art is particularly affordable, and doesn’t come with an eye-watering price ticket. Across the continent, arts projects support the talent of African people, often creating jobs and generating vital income where none would otherwise be available. (The cheerful, ‘naïve’ art of the Zimbabwe Arts Project and the prints, lithographs and paintings made by Botswanan San people at the Kuru Art Project are great examples; others exist in most African countries). Not all arts project are traditional, and most are infused with a contemporary vision; contemporary artworks in the true sense, including sculptures and works in other media by skilled artists, are widely available online. In African arts there is a thin line between ‘arts’ and ‘crafts’. You will find attractive pieces even amongst the mass-produced goods designed especially for the tourist trade. Many craft pieces, including those made by rural co-operatives and development projects, are highly decorative. The ethos is ‘fair trade’. Craft projects produce a huge variety of delightful objects, ranging from beads (the Kazuri Project in Kenya is well known) for fabulous ceramics and basketwork.

See Related Posts:

African Art for the Home – Part 1

African Art for the Home – Part 3

African Art for the Home – Part 4

African Art for the Home – Part 5