Despite the promise of urbanization, its reality was marked by brutal segregation, dehumanization, poverty, family collapse, and degradation. These forces, combined with unemployment and racism, conspired to produce a downward spiral into crime, alcohol and drug addiction. These impacts are evident in Michael Maimane "Another Day Goes By" and Mongzi Gumm's "Escape," paintings which strongly suggest that drinking is the only outlet available for many. Another work by Gumm titled, "Commuters," shows another side of urbanization by presenting well-dressed people commuting to work. These commuters contrast sharply with the drab people depicted in David Koloane's. "Commuters in a Subway." Koloane cites the dreariness afflicting commuters, remarking, "most people who live in township settlements spent the majority of their lives commuting to and from the city. They often leave their homes before sunrise and return at dusk" to their segregated townships. "Dog with Green Eyes" another work by Koloane focuses on the numerous stray dogs that move around in packs for survival and territorial domination. These dogs, like many people, are a law unto themselves and are not accountable to anyone. The menacing image of the dog with glistening eyes is almost that of a wild but "urban" dog. Archie Byron's "Apartment Living" shows another set of dynamic interactions taking place in a segregated urban environment in the United States. In the environment he paints, the innocence of children playing, while colliding with the reality of tragic inner-city deaths. This environment is similar to the townships in terms of segregation, community and interactive dynamics. In the United States, urbanization was supposed to enhance integration, but Kara Walker's "Emancipation Approximation Series" strongly hints at the confusion regarding such black/white exchanges. |
