Topic 3: Socio-political art, including resistance art of the 1970’s Flashcards
1
Q
Describe Elegy
who when what why
A
Elegy 1980
Paul Stapforth Painting / Graphite powder / Floor Wax
Description
- Lifeless body Steve Biko forensic lab
- Red background
- violent death 3 years prior in which he was tortured
Background
- Red flat shows Steve is the focal point
- Red symbolic violence
Colour / Medium
- Graphite body is colourless and shows lack of life
- Use of floor wax makes look grey and cold
- Links to cold cell and adds to desolate feeling of image
Light Souce
- Not definite and gives ominous tone \
- Unnatural light could represents his unnatural violent death
- Could link to matrydom and Spirit
Composition
- Biko in centre
- Naked = vulnerability
- Shows his victimhood and shows his dead body
Meaning
- Show Biko as a matyr
- Pay homage to Biko
2
Q
Describe It Left Him Cold
who when what why
A
It Left Him Cold
Sam Nhlengethwa 1980
Description
- Figure lying on the floor
- Biko’s body
- Inside a dark room with chair and desk
Light
- Light is coming from above and illuminating him
- Sense of divinity and martyr
- Focus on him
Composition
- Steve centre of room
- Framed image of police on wall
- Desk and chair represent interrogation stmbolic
Figure
- Body stiff shows lifelessness
- Big head symbolic, shows him as a larger-than-life figure (wise good…)
Media
- Unnaturalistic mixed media with collage
- Expressionistic not Naturalistic
- Messy dirty style used to portray room in which he was tortured
- Ordinanny and plain except for Biko
Meaning
- Showing Biko as a victim of abuse
- Shows him as a martyr
- Gives him a saintlike complex
