Latest news with #AMazeofPower
Morocco World
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
Mohammed VI Museum in Rabat Exhibits ‘A Maze of Power'
Rabat — The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat has opened a new exhibition titled 'A Maze of Power' by American artist Kehinde Wiley. Running until June 15, the exhibition presents a fresh look at African leadership, inviting visitors to reflect on the choices that shape both artists and their subjects. The exhibition, was previously showcased in Paris and Dakar, features eleven large portraits of African heads of state, reimagined through vibrant Pan-African aesthetics using wax fabrics and geometric patterns, which Wiley has been confidentially working on since 2012. The portraits, painted on four-meter-high canvases, blend European royal art postures with African symbolism, challenging traditional, euro-centric, views of power both 'beautifully and problematically.' Mehdi Qotbi, President of the National Museums Foundation, praised Wiley's work for its bold reimagining of classical portraits, offering a modern and thought-provoking perspective on power. Wiley himself explained that the exhibition aims to challenge the way black leaders have been portrayed in art history, questioning power as an artistic concept rather than simply glorifying individuals. 'Morocco is one of my favorite places in Africa, a cultural crossroads where tradition and modernity converge. I am honored to present my paintings here,' said the New York based artist in a press statement, expressing his admiration for Morocco as a cultural crossroads and explaining why he chose it as the location for opening the exhibition. The Black American artist is most famous for his depiction of former US President Barack Obama that was unveiled in 2018. The iconic depiction features Obama seated against a vibrant backdrop of greenery and symbolic flowers referring to Obama's heritage and the larger African-American experience. Tags: African culturearts in Morocco
Asharq Al-Awsat
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Artist Kehinde Wiley Puts Power in a New Frame with Paintings of African Leaders
American artist Kehinde Wiley unveiled a series of large-format portraits of African leaders in Morocco on Tuesday, building on his now famous 2018 portrait of former US President Barack Obama sitting casually amid a wild cascade of leaves and flowers. His exhibition, entitled "A Maze of Power," opened at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, Morocco's capital, after previously showing in Paris and Dakar, Senegal. The artwork borrows from classical easel painting techniques, posing African leaders in a style mainly associated with European royalty and aristocracy. "What I wanted to do was to draw ideas in, to be able to look at the depiction of power, both beautifully and problematically," Wiley said. In one portrait, Ethiopia's former president, Sahle-Work Zewde, stands before a window, her nation's bustling capital stretching behind her as her hand clasps a dangling flower. In another, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, former president of Madagascar, is depicted sitting confidently astride a horse. And Alassane Ouattara, president of Ivory Coast, is seen clenching his brow as he grips a sword in his right hand. "I was thinking about the presidency at large as a symbol, as a seat of power," Wiley told The Associated Press at the opening of his exhibition. "A Maze of Power" arrived in Morocco seven months after first showing at Paris' Musée du Quai Branly — Jacques Chirac. It's part of the Moroccan museum's efforts to become a hub for African art ahead of the next year's opening of the Museum of the African Continent, across the street in Rabat. Wiley said that after his Obama portrait, he was able to leverage his connections to gain audiences with leaders from across Africa and persuade them to sit for him. In addition to Obama's, the portraits also echo Wiley's earlier works, in which young Black men appear in poses most associated with paintings of kings and generals. Showing his would-be subjects a book full of classical paintings to draw inspiration from, Wiley said he prepares for painting by taking hundreds of photographs of each leader and then placing them in settings both real and abstract. Although he wanted to show political power, the leaders' individual political choices were not relevant to the series, Wiley said. Though Wiley said the role of some art can be to shed light on those affected by political decision-making, his goals were different. "This project is more about pulling way back and having a sort of bird's-eye view at the phenomena of the political portrait itself," he said.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Artist Kehinde Wiley puts power in a new frame with paintings of African leaders
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — American artist Kehinde Wiley unveiled a series of large-format portraits of African leaders in Morocco on Tuesday, building on his now famous 2018 portrait of former U.S. President Barack Obama sitting casually amid a wild cascade of leaves and flowers. His exhibition, entitled 'A Maze of Power,' opened at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, Morocco's capital, after previously showing in Paris and Dakar, Senegal. The artwork borrows from classical easel painting techniques, posing African leaders in a style mainly associated with European royalty and aristocracy. 'What I wanted to do was to draw ideas in, to be able to look at the depiction of power, both beautifully and problematically,' Wiley said. In one portrait, Ethiopia's former president, Sahle-Work Zewde, stands before a window, her nation's bustling capital stretching behind her as her hand clasps a dangling flower. In another, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, former president of Madagascar, is depicted sitting confidently astride a horse. And Alassane Ouattara, president of Ivory Coast, is seen clenching his brow as he grips a sword in his right hand. 'I was thinking about the presidency at large as a symbol, as a seat of power,' Wiley told The Associated Press at the opening of his exhibition. 'A Maze of Power' arrived in Morocco seven months after first showing at Paris' Musée du Quai Branly — Jacques Chirac. It's part of the Moroccan museum's efforts to become a hub for African art ahead of the next year's opening of the Museum of the African Continent, across the street in Rabat. Wiley said that after his Obama portrait, he was able to leverage his connections to gain audiences with leaders from across Africa and persuade them to sit for him. In addition to Obama's, the portraits also echo Wiley's earlier works, in which young Black men appear in poses most associated with paintings of kings and generals. Showing his would-be subjects a book full of classical paintings to draw inspiration from, Wiley said he prepares for painting by taking hundreds of photographs of each leader and then placing them in settings both real and abstract. Although he wanted to show political power, the leaders' individual political choices were not relevant to the series, Wiley said. The leaders depicted include some marred by corruption scandals and others who ignored presidential term limits and repressed protestors. There are also two whose militaries are fighting each other in eastern Congo: Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi. Though Wiley said the role of some art can be to shed light on those affected by political decision-making, his goals were different. 'This project is more about pulling way back and having a sort of bird's-eye view at the phenomena of the political portrait itself,' he said.
The Independent
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Artist Kehinde Wiley puts power in a new frame with paintings of African leaders
American artist Kehinde Wiley unveiled a series of large-format portraits of African leaders in Morocco on Tuesday, building on his now famous 2018 portrait of former U.S. President Barack Obama sitting casually amid a wild cascade of leaves and flowers. His exhibition, entitled 'A Maze of Power,' opened at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, Morocco's capital, after previously showing in Paris and Dakar, Senegal. The artwork borrows from classical easel painting techniques, posing African leaders in a style mainly associated with European royalty and aristocracy. 'What I wanted to do was to draw ideas in, to be able to look at the depiction of power, both beautifully and problematically,' Wiley said. In one portrait, Ethiopia's former president, Sahle-Work Zewde, stands before a window, her nation's bustling capital stretching behind her as her hand clasps a dangling flower. In another, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, former president of Madagascar, is depicted sitting confidently astride a horse. And Alassane Ouattara, president of Ivory Coast, is seen clenching his brow as he grips a sword in his right hand. 'I was thinking about the presidency at large as a symbol, as a seat of power,' Wiley told The Associated Press at the opening of his exhibition. 'A Maze of Power' arrived in Morocco seven months after first showing at Paris' Musée du Quai Branly — Jacques Chirac. It's part of the Moroccan museum's efforts to become a hub for African art ahead of the next year's opening of the Museum of the African Continent, across the street in Rabat. Wiley said that after his Obama portrait, he was able to leverage his connections to gain audiences with leaders from across Africa and persuade them to sit for him. In addition to Obama's, the portraits also echo Wiley's earlier works, in which young Black men appear in poses most associated with paintings of kings and generals. Showing his would-be subjects a book full of classical paintings to draw inspiration from, Wiley said he prepares for painting by taking hundreds of photographs of each leader and then placing them in settings both real and abstract. Although he wanted to show political power, the leaders' individual political choices were not relevant to the series, Wiley said. The leaders depicted include some marred by corruption scandals and others who ignored presidential term limits and repressed protestors. There are also two whose militaries are fighting each other in eastern Congo: Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi. Though Wiley said the role of some art can be to shed light on those affected by political decision-making, his goals were different. 'This project is more about pulling way back and having a sort of bird's-eye view at the phenomena of the political portrait itself,' he said.
Associated Press
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Artist Kehinde Wiley puts power in a new frame with paintings of African leaders
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — American artist Kehinde Wiley unveiled a series of large-format portraits of African leaders in Morocco on Tuesday, building on his now famous 2018 portrait of former U.S. President Barack Obama sitting casually amid a wild cascade of leaves and flowers. His exhibition, entitled 'A Maze of Power,' opened at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, Morocco's capital, after previously showing in Paris and Dakar, Senegal. The artwork borrows from classical easel painting techniques, posing African leaders in a style mainly associated with European royalty and aristocracy. 'What I wanted to do was to draw ideas in, to be able to look at the depiction of power, both beautifully and problematically,' Wiley said. In one portrait, Ethiopia's former president, Sahle-Work Zewde, stands before a window, her nation's bustling capital stretching behind her as her hand clasps a dangling flower. In another, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, former president of Madagascar, is depicted sitting confidently astride a horse. And Alassane Ouattara, president of Ivory Coast, is seen clenching his brow as he grips a sword in his right hand. 'I was thinking about the presidency at large as a symbol, as a seat of power,' Wiley told The Associated Press at the opening of his exhibition. 'A Maze of Power' arrived in Morocco seven months after first showing at Paris' Musée du Quai Branly — Jacques Chirac. It's part of the Moroccan museum's efforts to become a hub for African art ahead of the next year's opening of the Museum of the African Continent, across the street in Rabat. Wiley said that after his Obama portrait, he was able to leverage his connections to gain audiences with leaders from across Africa and persuade them to sit for him. In addition to Obama's, the portraits also echo Wiley's earlier works, in which young Black men appear in poses most associated with paintings of kings and generals. Showing his would-be subjects a book full of classical paintings to draw inspiration from, Wiley said he prepares for painting by taking hundreds of photographs of each leader and then placing them in settings both real and abstract. Although he wanted to show political power, the leaders' individual political choices were not relevant to the series, Wiley said. The leaders depicted include some marred by corruption scandals and others who ignored presidential term limits and repressed protestors. There are also two whose militaries are fighting each other in eastern Congo: Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi. Though Wiley said the role of some art can be to shed light on those affected by political decision-making, his goals were different. 'This project is more about pulling way back and having a sort of bird's-eye view at the phenomena of the political portrait itself,' he said.
