The two works of art that I will be comparing in this essay are Aso Ebi by Sokari Douglas-Camp (2005) and Scramble for Africa by Yinka Shonibare (2000). Both works of art are not only similar in terms of style, but they are also similar in terms of the meaning. The first important aspect that I would like to point out about both works of art is the visual content. In Scramble for Africa there are headless figures sitting around a table with African cloth draped around their bodies. The bodies seem to be carved out of wood. All of the headless figures seem to visually depict the anatomy of a man. Also if one looks closely, one can see that all of the male figures are sitting with a different demeanor. Some of the figures hands are folded depicting either a content or happy demeanor, while others arms are folded depicting either an angry or defensive demeanor. In Aso Ebi, instead of using wood, Sokari Douglas-Camp has used scrap materials for her work of art. The visual content includes flowers that are supposed to depict women. The head and bodies of the women are green seeming to depict flower stems. There are pink hats on the women’s heads that depict the top of an actual flower. There are also pink cloths draped around the women’s waists. If one looks closely, one can see that the cloths seem to represent flowerpots. All of the women are standing up in the middle of a garden blending in with the other plants that are surrounding them. Some are tending to the plants while others seem to be standing still. When comparing both works of art, one can see that both artists desire to depict humans in some sort of way.

The next important point I would like to point out is the significant meaning behind both works of art. If one takes the titles as well as the visual content into consideration, one can see that both Shonibare and Douglas-Camp seek to idealize different important subjects. In Scramble for Africa, the men seated around the table seem to be debating about something important. The title Scramble for Africa conveys to the spectator that the men are debating over some sort of political power in Africa. The different cloth that the men are wearing conveys to the spectator that the men are on opposing sides and have opposing ideas. As mentioned earlier, some men seem to be content while others seem to be discontent. But while the men seem to be talking about important subject matter, the men are headless. Through Scramble for Africa, Shonibare seeks to idealize the power struggle in different African communities (or even the continent of Africa as a whole). The fact that the men are headless represents the idea that the men who seek power in Africa do not have to be African, or it can represent the idea that they are men who do not have good judgment or guidance.

In Sokari Douglas-Camp’s Aso Ebi, as mentioned earlier, the women are all made out of flowers. It is also important to note that Aso Ebi is an expensive African cloth that many women wear in Africa. The cloth is usually worn at significant ceremonies and events. While taking the visual content of the picture and the title into consideration, it is evident that Douglas-Camp is trying to convey a message about the cloth’s importance. The fact that the women are suppose to gardening can convey to the spectator that women in Africa will work very hard just to be able to afford the cloth. Also, the fact that the women are made out of flowers while working in a garden can also convey the idea that some women will “lose” themselves just to be able to afford it. When I say “lose” themselves, I am referring to women losing their personal values and beliefs just to partake in a job that will give them enough money to buy the cloth. While the specific details of the meaning behind this particular work of art can vary depending on the spectator, it is generally evident that Douglas-Camp is trying to depict just how import the Aso Ebi cloth is to some African women.

After closely analyzing both works of art, one can see that both artists seek to idealize different subjects through their art. The art titles along with the visual content seek to give the spectator an idea of what subject they are seeking to explore. While both works of art share the similarity of obtaining idealist meanings, the idealist meanings are also similar, as they both seem to revolve around “status”. The expensiveness of the Aso Ebi cloth can depict one’s status just as much as one’s political influence (which the men are debating over in Scramble for Africa). However, the biggest difference between both works of art is that one caters to the female community while the other caters to the male community. Nonetheless, both works of art similar in terms of content and meaning.