Spirituality in art
Visually
Githinji’s portraits seem reminiscent of Picasso’s, but let us remember that
Picasso appropriated many of his cubist concepts from African iconography. A closer reference would be Wifredo Lam, well
known Afrocuban modernist who worked alongside Picasso in the late 1930’s. Lam’s use of cubism often incorporated idioms
of African rituals. Githinji’s
portraits also possess spirituality, but his figures are more physiognomic, incorporating
a lexicon of symbols and motifs. Ultimately
the portraits serve as metaphors for the unification of man and his spiritual world. |
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”Art
represents ąshe, a Yoruba word with no English equivalent.
In ąshe there is magic, the power to make things happen, and the embodiment
of a life force.”
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African Gallery
Amit May Fine Arts