Art of Contemporary African Migrants: Tackling Dislocation

Introduction: The Art of Contemporary African Migrants

Contemporary African migrant artists have transformed the global art landscape. Their work, rich in narrative and visual power, explores the complexities of migration, identity, and belonging. As these artists navigate new environments, they confront dislocation and cultural hybridity, embedding their experiences in every medium they touch. This essay examines the art of contemporary African migrants, focusing on how dislocation shapes their creative output. It highlights the works of filmmakers like Steve McQueen and John Akomfrah, as well as visual artists such as Maxine Walker and Chris Ofili. Throughout, we will see how these artists use their practice to interrogate identity, challenge stereotypes, and create new spaces for dialogue.

Dislocation and the Migrant Experience in Art

The Meaning of Dislocation

Dislocation, in the context of migration, is not just physical. It is psychological and cultural, often resulting in a profound sense of loss or fragmentation. Migrants may feel divided from their origins and disconnected from their new surroundings. For many African artists, this experience of double displacement becomes central to their work. Their art narrates stories of living between worlds, often on terms not of their own choosing.

Art as Cultural Expression

Art serves as a powerful vehicle for cultural expression. For contemporary African migrants, it becomes a means to process and communicate the complexities of their experiences. By drawing on personal and collective histories, these artists create works that resonate with broader audiences. They explore themes of memory, trauma, and resilience, often referencing the legacy of colonialism and slavery. Through their art, they challenge dominant narratives and assert their presence in societies that may seek to marginalise them.

The Legacy of Slavery and Its Artistic Echoes

Historical Roots of Dislocation

The transatlantic slave trade forcibly removed millions of Africans from their homes, leaving lasting scars on individuals and communities. This history of violence and displacement continues to inform the work of contemporary African migrant artists. Even when artists do not directly reference slavery, its echoes are present in their exploration of identity and belonging. The sense of dislocation experienced by their ancestors is reimagined and reinterpreted in new forms.

Reclaiming Narratives

Many artists use their practice to reclaim agency over their stories. They resist reductive representations and challenge stereotypes imposed by dominant cultures. Through painting, photography, film, and installation, they assert the complexity of African identities. Their work often serves as a form of resistance, celebrating survival and resilience in the face of historical and ongoing oppression.

Film as a Medium of Migration: The Works of Steve McQueen and John Akomfrah

Steve McQueen: Visualising Diaspora and Power

Steve McQueen stands as one of the most influential contemporary artists and filmmakers. His films, such as 12 Years a Slave, confront the brutal realities of slavery and its enduring impact. McQueen’s approach is both formal and political, using film as a tool to interrogate power, race, and history. His work is marked by extended takes and minimalism, which draw viewers into the lived experience of his subjects.

In his exhibition at Dia Chelsea, McQueen presents works that span decades, exploring narratives of the African diaspora. Pieces like Sunshine State and Exodus delve into personal and collective histories, examining identity and racial stereotypes. By revisiting his parents’ place of origin and incorporating family stories, McQueen bridges the gap between past and present. His films and installations invite audiences to reflect on the ongoing consequences of migration and dislocation.

John Akomfrah: Memory, Migration, and Montage

John Akomfrah is renowned for his innovative use of film and video. His works blend archival material, still photography, and newly shot footage to create layered narratives. Akomfrah’s films often focus on the experiences of the Black diaspora in Britain, exploring themes of memory, post-colonialism, and environmental crisis.

In Four Nocturnes, Akomfrah links migration with environmental degradation, drawing connections between the exploitation of people and land. He dissolves boundaries between humanity and nature, highlighting the interconnectedness of all forms of displacement. His earlier work, Handsworth Songs, examined the 1985 riots in Birmingham and London, using archive footage to explore the realities of Black British life. Akomfrah’s practice consistently challenges viewers to reconsider the histories and futures of migrant communities.

The Influence of Stuart Hall

Both McQueen and Akomfrah draw inspiration from cultural theorist Stuart Hall. Hall’s work on identity and multiculturalism has shaped generations of artists and thinkers. He emphasised the fluid and contested nature of cultural identity, arguing that it is always in the process of becoming. Hall’s ideas resonate deeply with artists who navigate the complexities of migration and diaspora. His influence is evident in Akomfrah’s The Stuart Hall Project, which reflects on Hall’s legacy and the broader struggles of post-colonial societies.

Photography and Identity: Maxine Walker’s Radical Self-Portraiture

Maxine Walker: Challenging Stereotypes

Maxine Walker’s photography interrogates the construction of identity and the representation of Black womanhood. Born to Jamaican parents in Birmingham, Walker used self-portraiture to challenge visual stereotypes. Her work from the 1980s and 1990s remains deeply relevant, as it explores the psychological and cultural dimensions of Blackness.

In her Untitled series, Walker presents a sequence of self-portraits that appear to peel away layers of skin. This performative act invites viewers to question the fixity of identity and the persistence of racialised perceptions. By magnifying the delicacy of skin, Walker’s images suggest that Blackness cannot—and must not—be stripped away. Her work confronts the viewer with the complexities of beauty, masquerade, and vulnerability.

Reinventing Representation

Walker’s use of photo-booth formats and transformative styling disrupts ideas of fixed cultural stereotypes. She employs wigs, clothing, and makeup to highlight the possibilities of self-expression and reinvention. Her portraits reject the notion of racial purity, instead celebrating the multiplicity of Black identities. Walker’s practice underscores the idea that histories are constructed and open to reinterpretation.

Building Community and Legacy

Beyond her own practice, Walker played a key role in supporting other Black female photographers. She co-founded collectives and platforms that provided space for marginalised voices. Her legacy extends beyond her images, shaping the broader landscape of Black British photography.

Painting Dislocation: Chris Ofili and the Politics of Representation

Chris Ofili: Art as Empathy and Protest

Chris Ofili’s paintings often address the pain and resilience of Black communities. His work No Woman, No Cry memorialises Doreen Lawrence, mother of Stephen Lawrence, a victim of racially motivated violence in 1990s Britain. Ofili uses abstract patterns and unconventional materials to evoke emotion and empathy. Elephant dung and map pins become symbols of mourning and justice.

Ofili’s art responds to the ongoing realities of racism and dislocation. By foregrounding the experiences of individuals like Doreen Lawrence, he draws attention to broader patterns of violence and marginalisation. His work encourages viewers to confront uncomfortable truths and to consider the possibilities of healing and empowerment.

Visualising Black British Identity

Ofili’s paintings contribute to the emergence of Black political consciousness in Britain. He references the history of slavery and its aftermath, questioning dominant images of Black British identity. Through his art, Ofili offers realistic and nuanced representations, challenging both historical and contemporary injustices.

The Art of Resistance: Contemporary African Migrants and Collective Practice

Collaboration and Community

Contemporary African migrant artists often work collaboratively, building networks and collectives that amplify their voices. These collaborations foster solidarity and create new spaces for artistic experimentation. By working together, artists challenge the isolation that can accompany migration and dislocation.

Art as Radical Expression

Art becomes a form of radical expression, allowing artists to interrogate the relationship between culture and politics. Through their work, they advocate for genuine representation and challenge systems of oppression. Their art is not only a reflection of personal experience but also a call to action.

Migration, Memory, and the Environment

Linking Human and Ecological Displacement

Recent works by artists like John Akomfrah draw connections between human migration and environmental crisis. By highlighting the exploitation of land and people, these artists reveal the interconnectedness of all forms of displacement. Their work encourages viewers to consider the broader implications of migration, beyond individual stories.

The Role of the Archive

Many artists use archival material to construct their narratives. By blending past and present, they create works that are both historical and contemporary. This approach allows them to challenge official histories and to recover voices that have been silenced or marginalised.

Film and Visual Art: Shared Strategies and Distinctive Voices

Montage and Non-Linear Storytelling

Artists like Akomfrah and McQueen employ montage and non-linear storytelling to reflect the complexities of migrant experience. These techniques disrupt conventional narratives, inviting viewers to engage with multiple perspectives. By layering images and sounds, they create immersive environments that reflect the fragmentation and hybridity of diasporic life.

Physicality and Performance

Both filmmakers and visual artists use physicality and performance to explore identity and dislocation. Whether through extended takes or performative self-portraiture, they foreground the body as a site of meaning. This focus on embodiment challenges abstract representations and insists on the reality of lived experience.

The Continuing Influence of African Art on Western Modernism

Primitivism and Its Legacies

Western artists have long drawn inspiration from African art, often through the problematic lens of primitivism. Works like Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon appropriated African aesthetics while reinforcing stereotypes. Contemporary African migrant artists respond to this legacy by reclaiming their own visual languages and challenging the biases of the art world.

Towards New Forms of Representation

By engaging with both African and Western traditions, contemporary artists create new forms of representation. They refuse to be confined by the expectations of either culture, instead forging hybrid identities that reflect their lived realities.

Gender, Identity, and the Politics of Representation

Black Womanhood in Contemporary Art

Artists like Maxine Walker place Black womanhood at the centre of their practice. Through self-portraiture and performative photography, they challenge the invisibility and misrepresentation of Black women in art and society. Their work interrogates the intersection of race, gender, and identity, offering new possibilities for self-definition.

Challenging the Limits of Documentary

Walker and others use constructed scenarios to question the limits of documentary photography. By blurring the boundaries between fact and fiction, they highlight the ways in which all representations are mediated and constructed. This approach opens up new spaces for creative experimentation and critical reflection.

The Role of Memory and Storytelling

Personal and Collective Memory

Memory plays a central role in the art of contemporary African migrants. Artists draw on personal histories as well as collective memories, weaving together stories that span generations and continents. Through their work, they preserve and reinterpret the past, ensuring that it remains relevant to the present.

Storytelling as Resistance

Storytelling becomes a form of resistance, allowing artists to assert their agency and challenge dominant narratives. By telling their own stories, they counteract the erasure and marginalisation that often accompany migration.

The Future of the Art of Contemporary African Migrants

Expanding the Canon

Contemporary African migrant artists are reshaping the canon of art history. Their work is increasingly recognised and celebrated in major institutions and exhibitions. As their influence grows, they continue to challenge the boundaries of art and to redefine what it means to be an artist in a globalised world.

New Directions and Possibilities

Looking forward, these artists are likely to explore new media and technologies, further expanding the possibilities of artistic expression. Their work will continue to address pressing issues, from migration and identity to environmental crisis and social justice.

Conclusion: Towards a New Understanding of Migration and Art

The art of contemporary African migrants is a vital and dynamic field. It reflects the complexities of migration, dislocation, and identity, offering new ways of seeing and understanding the world. By drawing on personal and collective histories, these artists create works that are both deeply personal and profoundly political. Their art challenges stereotypes, reclaims narratives, and builds new communities of meaning.

As we have seen, filmmakers like Steve McQueen and John Akomfrah, alongside visual artists such as Maxine Walker, use their practice to interrogate the legacies of slavery, colonialism, and racism. They employ innovative techniques and collaborative strategies to create works that are both aesthetically powerful and socially engaged. Their contributions are essential to any serious discussion of contemporary art and migration.

For further exploration of these themes, see the related UKessays.com article on the exploration of dislocation in the work of contemporary African artists. You may also find insight in the analysis of Picasso’s engagement with African art, which provides historical context for the ongoing dialogue between African and Western art.

In summary, the art of contemporary African migrants is a testament to the power of creativity in the face of adversity. It offers a vision of resilience, innovation, and hope for the future.

References for Contemporary African Migrant Art Sources

A–C

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• Block Museum of Art (2019) Histories of African Migration Explored by Renowned Contemporary Artist Isaac Julien. Available at: https://nublockmuseum.blog/2019/01/31/histories-of-african-migration-explored-by-renowned-contemporary-artist-isaac-julien/ (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
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C–D

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D–L

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M–O

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O–P

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S–T

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U–Y

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• UK Essays (n.d.) The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain English Literature Essay. Available at: https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-literature/the-negro-artist-and-the-racial-mountain-english-literature-essay.php (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
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• UCA (n.d.) Students Explore Migration Through Art. Available at: https://www.uca.ac.uk/blogs/students-explore-migration-through-art/ (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
• Wikipedia (n.d.) Maxine Walker. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxine_Walker (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
• Wikipedia (n.d.) Steve McQueen (director). Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_McQueen_(director) (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
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Additional Sources

• Robles, L. (n.d.) [Title not specified]. University of Bristol. Available at: https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/files/144278518/Lizzie_Robles_Final_Manuscript_OAJ.pdf (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
• 1000 Words Magazine (n.d.) Maxine Walker. Available at: https://1000wordsmag.com/tag/maxine-walker/ (Accessed: 25 June 2025).