Research Task 3: Diaspora

For this research task, I have been given several artists that have experienced diaspora, I need to look at their experience, their art influence and if their work has changed at all.

Elizabeth Catlett

Elizabeth Catlett is an American-born, Mexico-based artist who worked on sculptures and print-making. Starting off in her career she created artist that reflected the beauty and resilience of black women, and used her Mexican heritage as an influence in her work, beautifully blending the two important things to her. As she moved to Mexico after trouble with an American Citizenship, she used a lot more of mexico culture into her work 1. Looking at her work, I can see where her inspiration from Frida Kahlo comes through the narrative beauty of faces in both their work, and because of the move to Mexico Catlett uses that more within her work. Her artwork went more into sculpture as time went on, but her work didn't significantly change. 2

'The Singing Head' 1980, Elizabeth Catlett

Judith Kerr

Judith Kerr, known for her children's books, fled Germany to the UK when Hitler came into power as a child, she was always fascinated with the beauty of life and so when she moved she saw illustrator's works from the UK and was amazed 3.Looking at her illustration knowing this shows her love for art and drawing, when you think about her work with her childhood you can see that she really wanted to bring that happiness into the lives of children around the world with her art and story-telling; even a topic about death and being a widow, she'll add silliness and fun to make it interesting for children that may also be feeling such a way. 4

'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' 1968, Judith Kerr.

Saul Steinberg

A Romanian-born, American based artist that created satirical illustrations of American life, his style was remarked as funny and witty with child-like qualities. Steinberg was able to use his full creativity and tools to fuel his art needs, especially so when he immigrated to the US. Steinberg used the child-like wonder of being an immigrant in American to create funny but very on-the-nose illustrations that reflected American life 5. His work being influenced and changed by this way of living allows his to create something that most Americans won't be able to capture since they become blind to what is their typical behavior. Looking at his work, you can see the timelessness of it, he was able to look at little things in life and create humour out of it. 6

'Drawing in The New Yorker', 1942. Saul Steinberg

Gerald Hoffnung

The witty Gerald Hoffnung was German-born and fled to the UK to escape the Nazi's, as a child he was inspired nu the cartoonist Walter Trier which would inspire him to create his own cartoons and personally send his comics as a teen to 'Lilliput' magazine. In his life, he worked for many publishing companies creating hilarious cartoons for every one to see 7. Fleeing to the UK allowed him to create and get an education (although struggled), and although he died young, he created a legacy with his cartoons, inspiring many people. Viewing his work, I can see a lot of fun and character and as time went on more techniques would be applied but would still remain cartoon-like and witty. 8

'Violin Soloist No. 2', 1956. Gerald Hoffnung.

Fritz Wegner

Another comedic and witty cartoon illustrator, Wegner was Austrian born and fleed to the UK; this was because he had drawn a cartoon of Hitler that made his "pro-Nazi" teacher extremely angry and put a huge risk on Wegner's life. He was sent alone and ended up staying with a teacher who took him in and taught him what he become to love, English language and art. His work evolved into magazines and book cover illustrations, he would create his cartoon full of character and I can see a few similarities to Gerald Hoffnung too. 9

'The Wicked Tricks of Till Owlyglass' 1990. Fritz Wegner

Marjane Satrapi

Known for her beautiful graphic novel, 'Persepolis', Satrapi was born in Iran during the 'Iran ese Revolution' and was set to Vienna as a teen due to the torment of the war and politics. Staying for while before moving to France where she studied art and found her inspiration David Bauchard, from there 'Persepolis' was born, and it flew off the shelves! Her work inspires many and continues to for many comic famous comic artists 10. Looking and reading her work, you can see how much her past influenced her work, see the torment of Iran...

'The Complete Persepolis: Volumes 1 and 2', 2007. Marjane Satrapi.

Mu Xin

Mu Xin, an artist who was born in China,k he created many books that were confiscated at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution which led him to be imprisoned and released three times before he fled to the US 11. He moved to New York where he created more art, through all mediums such as poetry, books, painting and lithographs; many of his earlier paintings have gone missing and are now lost to time 12. His work reflected the on-going political movements of China at that time, but also reflected the deeper meanings of life such as 'space and time' and history and art in relation to one another. 13

'Spring Brilliance at Kuaiji' 1977-79. Mu Xin

Reflection

I've read a few comics about people fleeing their country, such as 'Illegal' by Anthony Donkin and Eoin Colfer; a telling of a story about a boy and his brother fleeing to the UK. The story is fictional but every part of the book is true and is happening today. I also read 'The Boy Who Didn't Want To Die' by Peter Lantos, a graphic memoir about a boy and his family being taken from their home in Hungary through all to Germany where he was in a concentration camp.

Hearing about these stories and all these artists, it really makes me reflect on how different people use their art to either cope, to bring awareness on their experiences, or to bring more happiness to the world for other who are struggling.

I did struggle with this exercise, I think I was overwhelmed with all the artists that I researched and each one was important but I feel like I could've done more...

1The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Elizabeth Catlett". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Apr. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Catlett. Accessed 9 March 2025.

2 A Duncan & A Todd, The Art Story 'Elizabeth Catlett Artist Overview and Analysis', Jan 11 2024. Accessed 9 March 2025.

3 S. Pill, Artists & Illustrators 'A life in art: Judith Kerr', May 23rd, 2019. https://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/news/a-life-in-art-judith-kerr/ Accessed Mar 09, 2025.

4 The Guardian, YouTube 'Judith Kerr on When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit', Feb 1, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fY7WywUMwE Accessed 9 March 2025.

5 U/A, Illustration History 'Saul Steinberg', U/A. https://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/saul-steinberg Accessed 9 March 2025.

6 Norton Museum of Art, YouTube 'Exhibition Insights | Saul Steinberg: A Writer Who Draws', Jan 22, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeLgdYIsLow Accessed March 9, 2025.

7 U/A, Lamiek Comics 'Gerald Hoffnung', last updated: July 3rd, 2024. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/h/hoffnung_gerard.htm Accessed 9th March 2025.

8 U/A, Geral Hoffnung 'Biography', U/A. https://gerardhoffnung.com/biography/ Accessed March 9th 2025.

9 A Powers, The Guardian ' Fritz Wegner obituary', Mar 24, 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/mar/24/fritz-wegner Accessed March 9th 2025.

10 U/A, Lambiek 'Marjane Satrapi', last updated: 12th December 2024. https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/satrapi_marjane.htm Accessed Mar 9th, 2025.

11 U/A, Mu Xin 'About Us', U/A. http://www.muxinam.com/index_en.php?m=Guanyuwomen&a=guanyumuxin Accessed Mar 9th, 2025.

12 U/A, Mu Xin' Paintings', U/A. http://www.muxinam.com/index_en.php?m=Guancang&a=huazuo Accessed Mar 9th, 2025.

13 M Zhou, W Meng, X Chunjin & O Kaibin; CAMLab FAS | Harvard 'Mu Xin: The Writer- Artist of Space and Time' Aug 12 2022. https://camlab.fas.harvard.edu/event/mu-xin-the-writer-artist-of-space-and-time/ Accessed Mar 9th, 2025.