Overview
For this project I wanted to look into the artifacts stolen from Maqdala(now Ethiopia) and the Benin Kingdom(now Nigeria) that are being kept in the British Museum. I researched the significance of the artifacts and what they mean to the countries that they were stolen from along with how the British got them, which was usually be invading, looting and then burning the place down. Most importantly I researched how people in Nigeria and Ethiopia are working to get their stolen artifacts returned to them permanently. I made an online museum featuring a Maqdala and Benin Kingdom Exhibit that walks the viewer through the history of the kingdoms, their artifacts and present day returns.
Art
For art I made six lino cuts to create prints. These prints were a recreation of the Benin Bronzes stolen from the Kingdom of Benin with a twist. I made the lino cuts so they would show the impacts of what Britain did to the people of the Benin Kingdom. I made an online museum and researched the process of making the Bronzes. I also researched a famous artist from the 1500s, Benvenuto Cellini to create a hyperlink for context.
To the left is the recreated Benin Bronzes I made. This is a recreation of the Benin Bronzes. The people in them are drawn crying, some of them also have flames in the background. This because their culture and history was stolen and their city and homes were burned to the ground by the British. Over a century later the artifacts that are so important to Nigerias culture and history still have not been returned. The recreation was supposed to show the pain and suffering the British caused in oder to obtain the stolen artifacts.
|
English and Global Studies
For Global Studies I researched the history and origins of the Kingdom of Benin and Maqdala. I looked into the artifacts from there and their cultural and historical value to those places. I also looked into conflicts that they had with Britain that resulted in the looting and burning of both of those places. Finally I researched efforts people have made to get the artifacts returned and their personal feelings on the stolen artifacts. I used the information I gathered to complete my english portion which was creating museum labels.