Introduction to “Art, Signs, and Cultures” (1977)

Abstract This document, translated from the original French, is an edited transcript of a conversation between Senegalese painter Iba Ndiaye, French art historian Jean Laude, and moderator, Roger Pillaudin. It took place on occasion Festival des arts et cultures africaines in Royan, France (March 1977), was later broadcast radio channel Culture. What stands out way Laude seeks to negate Ndiaye's cross-cultural experience background, arguably his very legitimacy as contemporary artist. Laude's insistence adhering neat categories (linguistic, national, artistic) engaging with coupled steady defiance these categories, point broader tensions structuralism area studies, one hand, poststructuralism postcolonial other. The also invites careful scrutiny problem Eurocentrism, sense that structuralist position fact anti-Eurocentric: colonialism condemned for destroying local traditions, which are turn revered at expense allegedly derivative expressions emerging same societies. Ndiaye nevertheless holds own against aggressive paternalism, manages call into question number historian's assumptions around perceived axes obligations artistic identity.