Contemporary Primitive

Taslim Martin
2 February 2007 to 16 March 2007

Challenging the viewer to look with fresh eyes, devoid of preconceived notions, at African Arts and Culture, Contemporary Primitive, an exhibition of new work by Taslim Martin, looks at new ways of interpreting established sources of artistic inspiration, under the light of materials, equipment, processes and expertises unavailable outside of the industry.

Is there an appropriate response to one’s cultural background?

Creating synergies between Crafts, Design and Fine Art, Contemporary Primitive will present a body of work, which investigates the notion of Culture, by looking at the punctual moments in History, and History of Art, when cross-cultural and cross-discipline fertilisation gave birth to ground-breaking innovation, often without being noticed or even acknowledged.

An exhibition of Taslim Martin’s new and recent work, Contemporary Primitive prompts the viewer to question the concept of objects and their historic and contemporary role in African as well as in Western society; It inspires the audience to ponder the nature of interplay and cross cultural influence in the object arena; beckoning us to reflect on how cultures give meaning to objects and how objects often define cultures.

Contemporary Primitive looks at new ways of interpreting established sources of artistic inspiration, under the light of materials, equipment, processes and expertises unavailable outside of the industry. Challenging the viewer to look with fresh eyes, devoid of preconceived notions, at African Arts and Culture, Contemporary Primitive is aiming at giving full credit to African culture for the role it played in the development of Modernity in the West.

Since graduating from Royal College of Art in 1998, Taslim Martin has participated in numerous exhibitions, including the recent Mixed Belongings at the Crafts Council (2005). He also had a residency at the Wysing Arts Centre in 2004, and currently lectures at Roehampton University.