Characteristics of African Design
“While impossible to distill the entire African continent’s design aesthetic into an all-encompassing ideal, there are a few artistic themes that are consistent throughout. Highly abstracted and rhythmic designs are more prominent than representative art. The organization of these abstracted forms and patterns lends itself to be understood as much through the imagination as through immediate visual impact. This cerebral view of art is furthered through the abundance of sculpture. Across the continent, three-dimensional experiential artwork has historically taken precedence over 2d works. Sculpture, architecture, and even two-dimensional artwork such as textile designs are generally intended to be experienced in the round, where the space created, contained, or interrupted by the artwork is just as important as the art itself. This concept of positive-negative space has directly affected the design and use of African public space. In cities, public life takes place in the markets and streets, with citizens occupying the 3d network created by the absence of buildings. The relationship between experiencing the three dimensionality of the city and the experience of sculpture and its surrounding white space is clear.”
(quote from http://magazine.art-signal.com/en/david-adjaye-bringing-african-design-home/)
