Historical and Geographical Perspectives  3 Separate artistic eras  Primitive/pre European influence  Colonial era  Apartheid era

Primitive/Pre-European  Consisted of  Decorative pots, cave paintings, and other practical tools.  Uses mostly 2 dimensional form and relies heavily on lines.  Uses hues from a similar gradient and color palette.

Colonial Era  Art used as a reporting to people who cannot read.  Availability of brushes and art supplies were introduced to the African culture.  New forms and styles begin to emerge, but bright colors still remain integral.

Apartheid Era  Heavy experimentation and many diverse forms emerged.  Influences from earlier periods are still very prevalent (bright colors, abstract forms).  Racial tension is a common theme in many pieces.

South African Design Elements  Common themes  Straight, strong lines.  Vibrant colors.  Usually 2 dimension forms.  Not a lot of depth in the background of the pieces.  Depiction of nature in high regard.  Art had something called a midpoint mimesis. This meant a piece should be identifiable as a man, but as a specific man.  Interrelatedness of forms gives the artwork multiple meanings.  Pieces that show the everyday life and happenings of tribe life.

Social Aspects  More conventional uses for their art such as clothing, pottery, weapons, other things can be useful and beneficial to their lives.  Objects may confer status or serve a religious or ceremonial function.  After colonial period a lot of art focused on the European colonization.

Modern Day Elements  Use of colors is still consistent with older, but a more abstract shape is present.  Rugby jersey keeps some of the elements of the old design but fuses with the new.  Still hold animal and nature in high regard  However, it is on a rugby jersey which shows the fusion of modern European aspects and South African.