Butcher Boys by Jane Alexander
Jeremy Steffen
11/30/13
Arts of Africa
DAkpem
Butcher Boys
Butcher Boys is a work of art created by Jane Alexander in 1985-86. Jane Alexander is a caucasian female who was born in Johannesburg South Africa in 1959, and grew up in South Africa during the tumultuous political and cultural atmosphere of apartheid and the fight for civil rights. This location, or more specifically the cultural, social and political aspects of this location, affected Alexander's work,
Butcher Boys. The artist states, “my work has been a response to the social environment I find myself in.
Apartheid happened to be the important political condition at a certain time, and it still impacts my perception of social environments now, here or abroad”. (Dent). Alexander still resides in South Africa and currently teaches at the Michaelis School of Fine Arts in Cape Town (Bick 30).
Butcher Boys is a work consisting of three plaster-cast, life-size naked figures that embody both human and inhuman characteristics. The human characteristics include arms, legs, hands, feet and torsos that are combined with monster like heads with decaying horns, dark eyes, cleaved backs, sutured chests, ear holes and lacking mouths. The genitalia of the figures appear to be covered by codpieces. The three figures are seated on a bench in a mundane position that could be seen in a "doctor's office waiting room" or similar to "athletes on the bench." (Klassmeyer). This exhibit is not separated from the audience by rails or boundaries, but is on an equal level to viewers, and therefore viewers are able to see the art piece from all angles. The artist used oil paints to create the darkness of the defects of the figures making them seem more realistic. This artwork was created by Alexander while she was completing a masters degree at the University
of Witwatersrand. She may have chosen the media of plaster to create these figures due to the message she intended to portray. The possible message, which will be discussed
11/30/13
Arts of Africa
DAkpem
Butcher Boys
Butcher Boys is a work of art created by Jane Alexander in 1985-86. Jane Alexander is a caucasian female who was born in Johannesburg South Africa in 1959, and grew up in South Africa during the tumultuous political and cultural atmosphere of apartheid and the fight for civil rights. This location, or more specifically the cultural, social and political aspects of this location, affected Alexander's work,
Butcher Boys. The artist states, “my work has been a response to the social environment I find myself in.
Apartheid happened to be the important political condition at a certain time, and it still impacts my perception of social environments now, here or abroad”. (Dent). Alexander still resides in South Africa and currently teaches at the Michaelis School of Fine Arts in Cape Town (Bick 30).
Butcher Boys is a work consisting of three plaster-cast, life-size naked figures that embody both human and inhuman characteristics. The human characteristics include arms, legs, hands, feet and torsos that are combined with monster like heads with decaying horns, dark eyes, cleaved backs, sutured chests, ear holes and lacking mouths. The genitalia of the figures appear to be covered by codpieces. The three figures are seated on a bench in a mundane position that could be seen in a "doctor's office waiting room" or similar to "athletes on the bench." (Klassmeyer). This exhibit is not separated from the audience by rails or boundaries, but is on an equal level to viewers, and therefore viewers are able to see the art piece from all angles. The artist used oil paints to create the darkness of the defects of the figures making them seem more realistic. This artwork was created by Alexander while she was completing a masters degree at the University
of Witwatersrand. She may have chosen the media of plaster to create these figures due to the message she intended to portray. The possible message, which will be discussed
Bibliography: Being Human. Durham University. N.p., 3 Mar. 2009. Web. . Bick, Tenley. "Horror Histories: Apartheid and the Abject Body in the Work of Jane Alexander." African Arts (2010): 30-41 Dent, Lisa. "Global Context: Q+A with Jane Alexander." Art in America. Cynthia Zabel, 6 Aug. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. . English, Chris. "Die Antwoord and Appropriation." YouTube. YouTube, 06Dec. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. "Jane Alexander." ArtThrob. N.p., July 1999. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. . "Jane Alexander | South African History Online." South African History. N.p.,15 Apr. 2009. Web. 30 Nov. Jimenez, Dan 'etta. "Jane Alexander: Surveys (from the Cape of Good Hope)." (2013): n. pag. Rpt. in Museum of African Art New York Klassmeyer, Kelly. "Jane Alexander and the Dangers of Success." Houston Press. N.p., 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. . Visonà, Monica Blackmun. A History of Art in Africa. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2001. Print.