What Is a Trade? : Donald Fels and Signboard Painters of South India Paperback / softback
by Greg Bell, Donald Fels, Samuel K. Parker
Paperback / softback
Description
What Is a Trade? Donald Fels and Signboard Painters of South India presents sixteen large-scale paintings that explore trade and globalization in India.
Fels' conceptual starting point for this exhibition was Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama's 1498 voyage to Malabar, India, in search of a direct sea route for the spice trade.
What is a Trade? explores the historic and modern-day legacy of that expedition more than 500 years later. In 2004 and 2005, Fels traveled to Kerala (formerly Malabar), India, as a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar, to work with local commercial signboard painters on a body of work that examines globalization in India and traces its roots to Vasco's voyage.
Most of the signboard painters had formerly worked as billboard painters -- until recently, all billboards in India were hand-painted, but cheaper and more efficient inkjet printers are making the painters obsolete.
In light of this trend, Fels and his collaborators created work in the style of traditional hand-painted billboards and Bollywood advertising.
The bright colors and strong graphic narratives make visually arresting statements about the historic and contemporary effects of trade and globalization.
Information
-
Available to Order - This title is available to order, with delivery expected within 2 weeks
- Format:Paperback / softback
- Pages:80 pages, 42 color illus.
- Publisher:Tacoma Art Museum
- Publication Date:23/05/2008
- Category:
- ISBN:9780924335266
Information
-
Available to Order - This title is available to order, with delivery expected within 2 weeks
- Format:Paperback / softback
- Pages:80 pages, 42 color illus.
- Publisher:Tacoma Art Museum
- Publication Date:23/05/2008
- Category:
- ISBN:9780924335266
