Courage in the Congo Drawing

Honestly, the "Returned' series began as a a personal challenge to recreate well-crafted African Sculpture within the confines of 2-dimentional space. After finishing this piece, the fourth in the series, I learned that there is a growing movement to get stolen African art out of European museums and back to their homelands. Many of these objects were taken during the colonial era, when European powers exploited Africa's natural and cultural resources. Some of them are symbols of African kingdoms and civilizations that were destroyed or disrupted by colonization. The movement argues that these objects belong to the people and cultures that created them, and that they should be returned to their rightful owners. However, the process of repatriation is not easy. Many European museums resist giving up their collections, claiming that they are preserving and displaying them for the benefit of humanity. They also argue that they have legal ownership of the objects, or that they acquired them through legitimate means. The movement also faces practical challenges, such as identifying the original sources and owners of the objects, negotiating with different governments and institutions, and ensuring that the objects are properly cared for and protected in their new locations. The movement seeks to collaborate with African museums, artists, scholars, and activists to overcome these challenges and to promote a more respectful and equitable relationship between Africa and Europe in terms of cultural heritage. In anticipation of what must inevitably occur, I have placed the pieces against a backdrop from which the sculpture came. This image belongs to the Congo, And so the background depicts a minimalist Congo setting behind our 'Returned' sculpture.

Drawing:Colored Pencil on Paper

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:12 W x 16 H x 0.1 D in

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