The Art of Constructing an Identity

Warris Adenuga

Identify how we construct identity? What elements make up identity? How do we exhibit identity? Identity often refers to a sort of desperate quest or a deliberately confused search through both a mental and moral experience.  However, Erikson approaches this idea as an experience that will almost be a surprise that sneaks up on one, rather than something that can be found. The process of identity formation is located in the core of an individual, and also in the core of ones communal culture.  This process is ever changing and developing, but reaches a crisis during the stage of adolescence. At the earliest stage of the identity crisis there is an important need for trust in oneself and others.

Diversity and the American National Identity Greed is good, get get get, I want what you have, don't touch mine." This is what a friend of mine said when I asked for his conception of the American national identity is.Although this statement seems informal and absurd, it accurately reflects the dog-eat-dog world many people believe to be the American capitalist culture. Whether my friend said this with the intent of comic relief is inconsequential. The identity of the American colonists prior to the American Revolution was still work in progress because there were certain events that helped shape their identity and led to the American Revolution. The American colonies were trying to break away from the British control because they wanted to become independent and be their own nation. The Discovery of African American Identity In the 1900s African American have slowly started to gain their rights after the end of slavery. It was a difficult and tedious process; however, they never gave up on what they believed in, which is “racial equality”. African American stood together in organizations, marches, and unions because they had something that united them which wasn’t just skin color; it was inequality and slavery. There are systems in place to keep minorities at a disadvantage. This system of oppression is carried by a number of factors such as; the segregation of black people in urban areas referred to as ghettos, mass incarceration rate for people of color large educational gaps and killing of innocent lives with no justice. This system of oppression continues the frustrating living conditions for black people, and continues to make being black in America a constant struggle. Culture impacts circumstance and circumstance influences identity which can be either beneficial or detrimental. Ones’ overcoming of their circumstance will lead them to be identified as a conqueror

Following from the considerations in this essay, it is clear that art depicts personality or individual’s identity. Individuals interact or associate with pieces of art on a daily basis. All the things that individuals use e.g. cars, houses, clothes, utensils, paintings etc, are works of different artist and are fashioned to appeal to different kinds of people.These considerations are cemented when one analyses cultural art and associated meaningfulness. In a nutshell, cultural art differs because it reflects the subjective realm of different communities. Artists in a community only produce pieces of art that are representative of the realm or aspirations in their community

Dawoud Bey (Smokey) 2001

Smokey was my favorite in the exhibit, and same as the tour guide! There's something about this piece that makes you just feel vulnerable. His eyes says a lot about who his is and his struggles, as same with the hands. You can tell a lot about a person from their hands. And in this photograph his eyes and his hands are the only thing in focus. Bey the artist in this piece is exposing the reality of social problematics in society that categorizes and stereotype people. One can look at it as a tough rebellious black man as many do to those in real life, or you can just view it as a man sitting in the park. The point is for people to open their eyes and view individuals as nothing judgemental and just as a person. The artist wants to challenge the viewer and does it very well. This photograph is just beautiful from his fashion to his expression to the focus of the shot to the message of the art, everything just works.

Barnabe Mendez (Spiderman) 2007

Barnabe Mendez (Spiderman) 2007, by Dulce Pinzon is a piece that spoke to me directly. It reminds me of my own culture and identity. This photograph shows window cleaner dressed in a Spiderman costume harnessed to the side of the building. Both the photographer and the subject had to go to brave lengths to get this shot. This shoes the daily efforts that immigrants go through in this country to make a decent income. These jobs often go unnoticed and are very dangerous to achieve. Personally, I appreciate the representational effort to take these professionals look like super heroes because my father is a retired window cleaner in New York City. It is a dangerous job that requires balance practice, and skill to achieve in a smooth manner and there is always a very real possibility that you could end your day at the hospital, which often happened. In Social Psychology of Identities by Judith Howard, she states, “Recent years have seen increasing attention to struggles over national and ethnic identities, mirroring the real world identity-based ethnic conflicts that have had resurgence in the 1990s.” Unfortunately, this is still as real as ever decades later. The cultural identity of people like the window cleaner and the photographer differs greatly from other young Americans For a large percentage of this country; much of the culture is heavily traced to Mexico and other Hispanic countries. It is important to depict these people who live daily to support their families in a long-distance manner as something positive as opposed to being targeted as a general group as dangerous or parasitic but as hard working and even with super-human qualities.

Kehinde Wiley (Matar Mbaye) 2007

The second artwork to catch my eye was Kehinde Wiley’s Matar Mbaye. This piece gives the viewer a look at a portrait of a youth from Senegal by the name of Matar Mbaye. Identity is constructed here by using elements of color and items from Senegal to construct a unique identity for Matar. What this creates for the piece is to incorporate colorful elements from African fabrics that come with a colonial past. Some would say that this piece is an autobiography of a self-portrait of how Wiley sees himself or how he identifies himself to be. All in all, this artwork displays an identity that illustrates one’s true colors. He traveled to various places, including the west Africa countries which is the center of the slave trade. He is the most celebrated of contemporary artists for the 21^stcentury who was chosen to pain President Obama portrait.

Rock.Well: Radiant, Pop, Champ 2010

Fahamu Pecou is a scholar and interdisciplinary artist. He uses fine art, hip-hop and popular culture to influence his work. In this painting, Pecou demonstrates himself making a self-portrait. While looking in the mirror at himself, he is painting the three people that influence him. His three heroes Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, And Muhammed Ali. This depicts how the artist constructs his own identity. He connects his very own life with the lives of his heroes. Although in the self-portrait he is not painting himself, when he looks in the mirror he sees the face of his heroes. This is how he views himself.