Senegal and French Post-Colonial Influence

Senegal and French Post-Colonial Influence

French

My presentation examines the contemporary creative and artistic practices of Senegal, paying close attention to colonial French influence over said cultural practices. This project serves as a continuation of research analyzing street art in Québec and Tahiti in a French postcolonial frame. Senegal is well known for the practice of assemblage, where artworks are crafted from chance objects available to the artist. This practice is not unique to Senegal, but is in fact very common among Afro-Atlantic communities. I highlight the French influences within Senegal’s artistic production to set it apart from other similar practices seen in the Afro-Atlantic. I situate catholic imagery as one such aspect of assemblage work in context.