Postcolonialism

In lieu of Colonialism and Postcolonialism, art critics are universalizing art and refusing to take into consideration the cultural contexts of a piece of work. For instance, in the reading by Fisher, he showed us the European ciriticisms on the works of the Brazillian artist Helio Oiticica. Their criticisms were harsh in saying that Oiticica's works were "incoherent" and it "wasn't art" (Kocur 233-234). How can they say his whether his work is or is not art when he does not even fall under the European Academy of art? This is a problem because we cannot truly experience a "foreign" work of art unless we know the history of it and in what context it was made. Many artists have realized these issues and one interdisciplinary artist, Dana Claxton, has used her videos and performances to confront the issues of "historical, and continuing, impact of colonialism on Aboriginal cultures in North America" (Winsor Gallery).

The picture at the top is titled "Paris #3 (Ulysse)" (2009) and I feel as though this picture can sum up Claxton's entire feelings on colonialism and how it is still present in today's society. Look at the juxtaposition of the "Aboriginal" looking mannequin heads and magzine that says "cowboys and Indians". These odd juxtapositions can be seen throughout many of her works and

"Claxton has often employed visual symbols and metaphor in her work to focus on colonialist double standards and destruction of Frist Peoples, customs and enviroment. Her production in film and video establishes her as an important voice in contemporary media production. Her video, film and installation works have largely over-shadowed Claxton's work in performance art but it is a medium she has returned to again and again" (Alteen)

She is trying to voice to us the Colonialism that is still taking place today and how westerners still think of Aboriginals as the "Other". The West has ostensibbly labeled their art as inferior, but how can we appreciate a work of art if we are putting it in our on contexts and disregarding that fact that it has its own history? She produces artworks that try to "deconstruct the ways in which images, philosophies and iconographies of First Nations are formed and commodified, both historically and in contemporary mainstream" (Winsor Gallery).

References:
"Dana Claxton". Winsor Gallery. February 23, 2010.http://www.winsorgallery.com/artists.php?artwork=claxton_3.

Kocur, Zoya, and Simon Leung. "Theories in Contemporary Art since 1985". Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2005. p 233-234.

Alteen, Glenn. "Dana Claxton: Artist Bio and CV". February 23, 2010. http://www.danaclaxton.com/retrospective.html