Nzuji De Magalhaes: Spirit Dancer no. 1

De Magalhaes used sand, beads, yarn, and glitter to capture the traditional Angolan art form while emphasizing the harsh life in her country during an endless civil war between two political parties. These works reflect on tourism and how financial gain from foreign escapists contribute to a country’s domestic turmoil. By selling misguided images of their own ethnic background to tourists, Angolan vendors help perpetuate misconceptions in an effort to survive.