Author, Artist, Storyteller
"It’s fun to wander around the Metropolitan Museum of Art without a paper guide, but students in the School of Visual Arts’ MFA Visual Narrative program have created a number of creative, interactive maps for the museum well worth consulting. MAPPING THE MET presents eight mixed media maps based on data the students collected from various galleries housing the museum’s permanent collections. Each features the student’s own drawings of selected art, often accompanied with basic historical information." -HYPERALLERGIC
This work focuses on the African Wing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. How can I take a space and depict it in an interesting way? With lots of research, pictures, and many rides on the 6 train—I found, quite literally, a pattern. African textiles are often used to convey communication, while also being functional as skirts, dresses, shirts, etc. Many African works display these symbols and texts, and I quickly noticed that each piece involved movement, both in imagery and functionality.
THE MET—AFRICANA WING:
This project was completed over the course of three months—consulting stakeholders and SME’s over the project space, as well as further research into Africana studies. Ultimately, I used animation to depict the vast textiles used in each piece, and created a map of relevant textile symbols.
Together, the curator and I came up with a valid space to display the African map pictured, as well as the animation pieces connected to them, all while still being interactive in the Met Museum space.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:
My research led to two main sources of communication in Africana Textiles: color and symbolism. While color can indicate simple themes like “royalty” or “passion,” symbol can embody both stories and personal feelings.
FINALIZED GIFS:
My research led to small stories in fabric, which I felt was appropriate to depict as animation next to it’s corresponding piece in the museum. The results led to a rather interesting story, and several vignettes of animation throughout the Africana regions displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
These are a few examples of the twenty plus animations that were displayed in the museum’s Africana Wing.
A woman’s skirt
Most African art is functional, displaying many patterns that seem to move throughout the piece. Most sharp lines and boxes indicate security or strength, as shown in this woman’s skirt.
A green, beaded vase
A function piece with sharp lines, like daggers. These “teeth” often can symbolize ingenuity, which serves for this vases functionality.
Long blue scarf
Consecutive rigid lines often mean leadership as well as discipline. This scarf could’ve been owned and worn by someone of a higher social status, which could also be indicative by the color, as blue was not common.
Another woman’s skirt
Often times curves or circles in textiles can mean one or two things: loyalty and/or greatness. Speckled together, they often symbolize commitment.
El Anatsui’s many pieces made from recycled goods in Africa.
Patterns taken from El Anatsui’s work. The flower can symbolize superiority or prosperity, and ironic twist on Anatsui’s “trash sculptures.” Anatsui uses gold to symbolize both status and wealth, most likely alluding to the African rich coast.
a commemorative piece, used in celebration
This symbol is often used to showcase unity or perseverance. A commemorative piece such as this could also indicate themes of democracy and/or cooperation.
a hanging tapestry
Diamonds are a common pattern in African textiles that can mean protection. More often than not, they can mean procession and skillfulness as well.
Discover how I Mapped the Met, and follow my blog as well.