Renaissance
Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly from the 14th century to the 17th century. This was one of the richest period in European art. The Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature and art. Some of the greatest thinkers, authors, statesmen, scientists and artists in history of mankind thrived during this era.
Baroque
Baroque art emerged in Rome, in the 17th century and spread to other European countries where it merged with local traditions and cultures. Baroque means irregularly-shaped pearl & it carried connotations of “bizarre” and “absurd” when used by its critics who dismissed it as a decadent successor to the revered Renaissance movement.
Contemporary
Over the last few years, Kenya has cashed in on the “art boom” that Africa has been experiencing. Young artists in kenya, mostly in urban areas, are working in multiple mediums to explore issues related to their childhood memories, complex social interactions besides racial, ethnic, and religious identities.
History
The depth and wealth of Kenya’s art history is immense and unique. A significant collection of art is archived in public and private institutions. Sadly, the Kenyan public does not get to access these collections and the stories that define their history; stories of how humans have used creative expression to inform their posterity.
Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly from the 14th century to the 17th century. This was one of the richest period in European art. The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from the 14th century to the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature and art. Some of the greatest thinkers, authors, statesmen, scientists and artists in history of mankind including Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti, thrived during this era, while global exploration opened up new lands and cultures to European commerce. The Renaissance is credited with bridging the gap between the Middle Ages and modern-day civilization. Read more. Some of the most famous artistic works that were produced during the Renaissance include:.
Baroque art emerged in Rome, the artistic capital of Europe in the 17th century and spread to other European countries where it merged with local traditions and cultures. Baroque means irregularly-shaped pearl, derived from barocco in Portuguese, first used during the mid-1700s. Baroque art does not have any relation to pearls but the word was used as an epithet for a style that did not meet the great artistic standards of the preceding Renaissance era. Regardless of its origin, it carried connotations of “bizarre” and “absurd” when used by its critics who dismissed it as a decadent successor to the revered Renaissance movement. Till the end of the 19th century and occasionally in the present time, some people use this word in its original sense as an insult towards anything they find grotesque or abnormal. The Baroque Style also resulted in some majestic landmarks in modern Europe architecture...read more
The depth and wealth of Kenya’s art history is immense and unique. A significant collection of art is archived in public and private institutions. Sadly, the Kenyan public does not get to access these collections and the stories that define their history; stories of how humans have used creative expression to record their rich cultural heritage and inform their posterity. In this series we shall attempt to showcase the various art collections by The Late Joseph Zuzarte Murumbi, Kenya’s second Vice-President and art collector, and is known to have pushed for a national art gallery of Kenya, a dream he never saw come alive by the time of his death in 1990..
Over the last few years, Kenya has cashed in on the “art boom” that Africa has been experiencing, especially in major cities like Lagos and Cape Town. Young artistsin kenya, mostly in urban areas, are working in multiple mediums to explore issues related to their childhood memories, complex social interactions besides racial, ethnic, and religious identities. These are some of the most popular contemporary artists in Kenya right now:
