Decolonising European Art
Drunken Silenus supported by Satyrs
possibly by Anthony van Dyck
Ana Howie
Magdalene College, Cambridge
What is decolonisation theory?
- Critical intervention that assesses and attempts to redress the impact of colonialism on our ways of thinking
- Decentring Western knowledge and beliefs
- Critically examining historical and current biases
- Refocus attention on historically marginalised peoples, places, and histories
On the right, perhaps lit by the flames of a hidden bonfire, a third satyr wiggles his tongue lasciviously at an older bacchant, who, by the look of the heavy stick in her hand, doesn't welcome his attentions.
What is decolonised art history?
Who is in the room? Who is outside the room? Who (wo)mans the door? Who is gatekeeping? Who holds the keys? Who is speaking? Who is silent? Who is listening? Who is heard? Who is looking? Who is being looked at? Who is seen? Who is not seen? Whose gaze is privileged? Whose gaze, whose desires are denied? Who has the right to not be seen? Who can refuse visibility? Whose language dominates? Whose rules determine value? Who and what is denigrated? Are you mansplaining? Are you whitesplaining? Are you blacksplaining? Who is uncomfortable? Who is apologizing? Who is doing the work?
susan pui san lok
