VIRTUOUS LIVING - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

1.3.3 A revival in works of artRenaissance art has been described as the means by which thoughts, aspirations andhuman longings were expressed. The meticulous attention to detail, andunprecedented stamina, marked a distinctive departure from previous Works of Art.Art was the master expression of everything, and it provided the avenue for theinexhaustible imaginations of the Renaissance artists. Kings and Popes ranked highestamong patrons of Renaissance art, and sponsored many magnificent artisticenterprises. Among the Works of Art were plays and drama, music, poetry and FineArt (cf Hay and Law 1989:285-334; Burke 1986:43-176; Hale 1966:96-106).Little is mentioned specifically with regard to works of art in African Renaissancediscourse so far. However, we have noted that there were many expressions of poetry,dance, and music in the revival of Africa. Most of these were associated with theHarlem Renaissance by Afro-Americans and later Africans like Senghor, who wereeducated in Europe or America. The artists of the first half of the 20 th century didexpress the aspirations of the African people, lamenting nostalgically over the ruins ofAfrica. Most of the current artwork produced find their way into the internationalmarkets because of a huge demand. Indeed, putting aside market-driven interests,these items with their distinct African touch are surely an expression of Africa’sRenaissance.There is deep love of art, creativity and stamina expressed in performance such aspoetry, proverbs, dance, music and drama. The Western world has acquired a taste forAfrican art. African art is described as “strange expression of the deep non-rationalregion of man’s mind... whether understood or misunderstood, African art has hadconsiderable influence on Western painters and sculptors over the last half-century”(Maquet 1972:130). The South African government has established special focusedMinistries such as that of Arts and Culture, whose objective, among others, is topromote African arts. One specific area of interest to this study is South Africa’sNational Research Foundation with a subsidiary called “Indigenous KnowledgeSystems”. Stable states have awakened to a revival of art, which is often driven bypeople at the grassroots, most of whom have not had formal education. Sponsorship isstill limited in comparison to the demand of many and diverse initiatives.116