AFPR—Meet The Artists: Atang Tshikare

Meet @atangtshikare—one of the many contemporary artists whose work is featured in “Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room.” ⁣ Atang Tshikare’s design process is one of self-exploration, motivated by the desire to allow Indigenous knowledge to surface what has been obscured by centuries of colonization. ⁣ ⁣ Using materials native to South Africa, such as wood and grasses, and techniques passed down from his grandmother, such as charring and weaving, Tshikare reimagines a pair of 18th-century #fauteuils—a type of upholstered French chair introduced during colonization—as a means of reclaiming #Tswana culture from European colonial power. ⁣ ⁣ Leifo, meaning “fireplace” in the Sotha language, suggests that these chairs are meant to be placed in front of a hearth. The brass beading combines astrological constellations with Zulu pictograms to resemble fire sparks.⁣ Take a virtual tour of the exhibition: Learn more about the space and explore all the artworks on view: #MetAfrofuturist Production Credits: Managing Producer: Kate Farrell Producer: Melissa Bell Editor: Lela Jenkins Graphic Design: Abby Chen Music: Austin Fisher Photographs: Paul Lachenauer Special thanks: Atang Tshikare, Sarah Lawrence, Ian Alteveer, Ana Matisse Donefer-Hickie, Claire Lanier, Victoria Martinez, Sofie Andersen Subscribe for new content from The Met: #TheMet #Art #TheMetropolitanMuseumofArt #Museum © 2022 The Metropolitan Museum of Art