Conceptual Art

Conceptual art is a piece of art that is methodically put together that has an idea or concept behind it.

I think Kara Walker’s artwork is disturbing but yet intriguing at the same time. I like how she uses silhouettes as her medium because it makes the person really look at the pictures concept and not the colors being used. The silhouettes make it easier on the eye to try to figure out the message. Many of her concepts are embracing the truth instead of showing what should be or what ought to be. My favorite piece from her probably is “Camptown Ladies”. I googled her and this is one of the pieces that stood out for me. I think this piece is trying to show the history of African-American slaves. It shows how African-American slaves were treated, almost like horses. Just like horses, African-Americans were bred to become slaves when they got older. They were trained to do what the master says and if they didn’t, they were punished. They were treated in the harshest ways, as seen in the picture, the woman being hit and getting incentive by a mere carrot to do the job. It is almost saying that African-Americans are supposed to be slaves and succumb to the white man’s requests.

I think it is conceptual art because she put a piece together that had a purpose or an idea behind. She was trying to convey a message about the realities of our world, instead of what it should be. I think her pieces are very powerful because it does make a person take a step back and really think of what she is trying to say through her artwork. Her work also gives the reality of how African-American’s were treated and that although slavery was abolished, it still happened.