Sunday, 13 April 2014

Doung Anwar Jahangeer

'stepping into freedom'

stepping into freedom - proposed video installation



stepping into freedom - performance in the Warwick Junction as part of the City Initiative programme


steppingintofreedom - construction detail

Doung's interest in 'anti-form' could be useful in art-making activities in your school.


  dala  -  verb to make / create (isiZulu)




The influence of Dada and Kurt Schwitters  
Link to MoMA


Scwitters - Merzbau  - early 20th century - Germany

The beginning of the 20th Century saw an interest in ‘anti-form’ with the ‘merz-bau’ (maze buildings) of Kurt Schwitters of the DADA movement in Germany. Schwitters was motivated by the trauma of the First World War in Europe, and the resulting chaos in Germany.

Is it possible to comment on the elements and principles of art in Doung's piece - such as composition - when the main interest of the work is its anti-form? 
In the performance piece, the artist resembles a municipal official and so questions the role of of these officials in the regulation of traders in Durban. The maze of gazebo scaffolding has no function as a shelter and makes viewers curious about its purpose. This starts to make them think about what could be going on and  to question the authorities - it 'conscientises' the public. 
Doung's hope is that this gives rise to alternative negotiated solutions for traders in Durban, and as such, the piece has a socio-political purpose.


Possible NCS  Curriculum Theme 
5. Multi-media and New Media - alternative and contemporary art forms in South  Africa



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