Amber Murrey-Ndewa, University of Idaho
“Contemporary Painting as Social Commentary: Cultural Re-Appropriation in Cameroon”
Bio: B.A. Anthropology and Sociology, College of Idaho
Amber is a poet, an activist and an ethnographer. Her research interest is visual art’s influence on political and social identity formation in West Africa, specifically an exploration of visual art as a tool for reconciliatory, cross-ethnic dialogue. In Cameroon, she worked with her academic director to co-develop a grassroots community center that offers free English courses, computer software training, and a youth program that teaches resume writing, self-confidence and HIV/AIDS awareness. Amber is continuing her social activism on a domestic level, as an AmeriCorps*VISTA in rural Montana, helping to ensure abused and neglected Native American children receive legal representation.
Abstract: This research explores the production and interpretation of contemporary painting in the Republic of Cameroon, specifically analyzing its role in providing commentary on social, economic and political realities of everyday life. The potential for images of Cameroonians by Cameroonians to empower people with a more accurate and positive group identity—one that combats the oftentimes hegemonic African imagery promulgated by non-African media—is identified. However, a lack of local support for contemporary artistic production—including insufficient governmental funding, a lack of educational resources, a preference for traditional artistic forms, and a lack of public space wherein to display contemporary pieces—limits the production and understanding of contemporary Cameroonian painting by Cameroonians. An analysis of the consumer base for contemporary painting revealed a market dominated by foreigners where the establishment of high prices contributes to a fractured local audience.
Despite these obstacles, grassroots development initiatives around Cameroon are involved in the promotion of contemporary painting. The idea behind many of these small-scale projects is to encourage the production of local art that provides a framework for social development. From these models, the potential for contemporary painting to effectively serve as a tool for cultural empowerment can be realized.
