Afrofuturism in Art- Grade 12- lesson plan
Afrofuturism in Art
Lesson Plan for Grade 12
Lauragrace Rader
Course Overview
This course aims for students to understand how the concept and genre of Afrofuturism is seen in different forms of art, as well as its progression through the years.
Featured Artists
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Joshua Mays, Mikal Elam, Wangechi Mutu, Serena Saunders, and Lina Viktor
Objectives
Learn the definition and context of Afrofuturism in art.
Identify styles of art and pieces by different artists.
Utilize the aspects of Afrofuturism in your own art piece.
Materials
Internet access
Note-taking materials
Materials for art style of choice (canvas, paper, paint, pencils, sculpture or collage materials)
Sources for more information
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/afrofuturist-period-room
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/08/an-afrofuturist-seneca-village-at-the-met
Field Trip
For the end of the curriculum, students will take a field trip to The Met Museum. Here, they will see an exhibit titled “Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room,” curated by Hannah Beachler and Michelle Commander. This exhibit reimagines a 19th century Seneca village. This village was primarily inhabited by Black landowners, and was located in what is now Central Park. This community included around 50 homes, a few churches and cemeteries, schools, and parks. However, in 1857, residents were pushed out to make room for what would be Central Park. Only a small amount of history remains of these homes, but this exhibit reimagines what could have been. It embraces the Black diaspora while connecting the failures of the past to a brighter future. This exhibit also takes inspiration from the famous Flying African tale, which highlights the imagination and hope of enslaved people - which carries into how we also hope for the future.
Unit 1: Introduction
What is Afrofuturism? How does it fit into the art scene?
Afrofuturism: a cultural aesthetic in art, music, literature, etc. that combines sci-fi and fantasy with history to explore the African and Black experience, as well as connecting the Black diaspora to today in order for it to exist in the future
The term “Afrofuturism” was first coined in 1993 by Mark Dery, but beginning in the early 19th century, Afrofuturism has been present in visual art. Over time, this concept has expanded and allowed artists to tell their stories in an innovative and interesting way. “Afrofuturism focuses on works that examine the past, question the present, or imagine an optimistic future, and are meant to inspire a sense of pride in their audience,” (Angela Washington).
Themes of Afrofuturism in art pieces often include elements such as technology, vivid colors, and emphasis on Black features. A connection to the audience is also often included, whether it be eyes looking at the viewer or a recognizable theme.
Homework: Research and develop a list of at least five Afrofuturist artists and the style they work in.
Unit 2: Undiscovered Genius of the Mississippi Delta
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) was a Haitian/Puerto Rican artist from Brooklyn, New York. His most famous works are in the style of neo-expressionism and graffiti. His family encouraged a creative environment, spurring his love of art. At a young age, his mother bought him a copy of Gray’s Anatomy, which inspired him to use the human form in his work. In the 1970s, his work became more and more popular, and he worked closely with other artists such as Andy Warhol in the 80s. Basquiat’s work focuses closely on classism, racism, colonialism, and other themes of the like. In relation to Afrofuturism, he uses solely African figures to represent his message, as well as including new techniques unseen before him. In breaking the “rules” of art, he created a new space for those of African heritage in the future of the art world.
Questions:
Pick one theme that Basquiat incorporates into his artwork (one mentioned, or a different one you can point out), and find a piece from those below that represents that theme. How and why do you notice it in his work?
What does his insignia of the three-pointed crown represent in relation to his African roots?
How do colors play a role in his work?
Unit 3: The Beauty of the Black Experience
“When we talk about being Black, we automatically go to the barriers and challenges we face. Not the successes and the beauty of the Black experience.”
Joshua Mays (1976-) is an American artist best known for his Afrofuturistic murals. Mays was born in Denver, Colorado and is currently based in Oakland, California. He is a self-taught artist, and began his journey to success while in high school. He attributes some of his inspiration to Mati Kalrwein and Maya Angelou. Mays’ more well-known works include a mural series titled “BEACON” and an “augmented reality” piece (in collaboration with King Britt) titled Dreams, Diaspora, and Destiny. He was also commissioned by former President Obama during the “My Brother’s Keeper” Initiative to create installations and murals for the Obama Foundation venue.
Mays’ pieces often include Black people in sci-fi or fantastical settings, showing different stories and worlds. The characters he depicts represent power and bring beauty to the mundane.
Questions:
Mays does not self-identify as a part of Afrofuturism, though it is clear that his work fits into that genre. Why do you think this is?
What everyday activity could you turn into something more mystical and exciting? Does Mays’ work make you see things in a new light?
What story does the piece shown below tell?
Unit 4: The Other
Mikal Elam (1964) describes himself not only as an artist, but as a storyteller. He puts emphasis on the layers within a piece, and within people. Elam aims to disassemble the caste system which humans have created and put upon themselves. Why must we “other” people that are different from ourselves? “My personal mission is to bring imagery to art which has not been understood or embraced by American culture. Perhaps this has happened because of my ancestors arriving as slaves. My work is a narrative about The Invisibles. Art, culture, people marginalized. Trivialized as less important. We can repair this. It’s just a lesson in another’s background. Our history. Our beliefs. Our practices. No different in how we learn to enjoy so many varying cuisines in this nation. It was introduced to us. We recognize its flavor and eventually we enjoy it for its differences.” Othering and invisibility are common problems that are addressed in Afrofuturism, and Elam uses his work to highlight those areas with different and innovative images.
Wangechi Mutu (1972) is a Kenyan born artist who also focuses on the idea of separation, though through the lens of a woman as opposed to Black people as a whole. She aims to reshape how western culture views womanhood in an often racist and misogynistic way. Mutu places familiar images, such as the Garden of Eden, and reimagines them into new figures, exemplifying “balance and a feeling of belonging within them.” She often makes collages, and her more well-known works include Yo Mama and MamaRay. Her works depict women as powerful deities, rather than the lesser gender that society often portrays. Mutu combines history and science fiction to create new and unique worlds, empowering women like herself.
Questions:
What are the differences between Elam and Mutu? What are the similarities?
Based on the description of each artist, can you tell which of these pieces was created by which person?
How does othering and invisibility affect Black artists?
Unit 5: In the Stars
Serena Saunders is a muralist who aims to fight racial injustice with images of hope. She has a strong connection to spirituality, connecting the people she paints to a higher purpose and power. Saunders previously worked in fashion design, providing a unique angle in the way she designs her murals. She paints bold images of youth and women, with bright colors providing the blueprint for imaginative worlds. Saunders is the Creative Ambassador for the City of Philadelphia, which gives her a unique position to advocate for women of color in the art field and encourage them to tell their truth along with possibilities of the future.
Lina Iris Viktor (1987) is a Liberian-British artist living in Italy, and she works in multiple mediums. “Interweaving disparate materials, methods and visual lexicons associated with contemporary and ancient art forms, Viktor authors an idiosyncratic mythology that threads through deep time, knitting together a diasporic past with an expansive present in order to divine future imaginaries.” With a background in performing arts, Viktor is able to tell stories of infinite possibilities in almost infinite ways. She takes inspiration from West African sculpture, European portraits, ancient Egyptian iconography, and astrology.
Questions:
Why are women usually depicted as more connected to spirituality?
How do Viktor’s vast variety of inspirations provide a unique perspective on the African diaspora?
Both of these women produce bold works, but in different styles. How do each of these styles contribute to a powerful image of Black femininity?
Unit 6: Creating Your Own Afrofuturist Work
Now that you have learned about various artists and how their work represents the ideas of Afrofuturism, it is time to create your own piece!
Instructions:
Choose your materials. This can be anything you’d like from paint and canvas, paper collage, to a 3D sculpture. Get creative!
Decide which themes of Afrofuturism you want to incorporate. Make sure you include African themes/diaspora AND futuristic/sci-fi elements. Note these before you get started.
Play around with what you want your work to look like. Think about the arrangement of elements, if your colors and objects mean anything, and what story you want to tell. If you were the viewer, would you be able to decipher what the piece means?
Get to work! Start creating, and fully complete your work in the way YOU want it to look and are happy with.
Title the work and write a short description on what it means. This doesn’t need to be more than a paragraph, but should clearly and concisely describe what your art piece represents.
Congrats, you are now an Afrofuturist artist!
Alternate assignment:
This option is only to be used if you are unable to acquire the materials for making your own art piece, other special circumstances may apply.
Choose an artist we DID NOT talk about in this course and write a 4 page paper about them and their work. This should include a biography, explanation of some of their pieces, and how they contribute to the realm of Afrofuturism and progressing the art world. You may also note how their work inspires you.
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