Global
Terms
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- Only in the past ________ years have people begun to recognize African art in its own right.
- 100
- Miniature masks
- these were usually given to young boys to show future rank in tribe society
- African Art and the West
- At the beginning of the 20th century, African carvings appeared in Paris, France, They influenced many European artists, Pablo Picasso
- Bird
- go-betweens between heaven and earth
- Helmet masks
- partially or completely covers the head
- Ife Art
- Not far from Nok is holy city of Ife, many sculpted heads, heads made of bronze
- Nok Culture
- existed 2,500 years ago, located at the Niger and Benue rivers (modern day Nigeria), made pottery figurines and lifesized heads.
- Types of African Masks
- Face Masks, Miniature Masks, Helmet Masks, Top of the Head
- Ife Art and Scarification
- Ife pieces seem to be almost alive, lines in faces are scarfication, scarification show rank or status
- African Masks
- Probably most familiar form of African Art, use goes back to very early times, some figures on rock art show people wearing masks
- Unknown in the West
- not appreciates, or understood until fairly recently
- Beauty
- does not show true resemblance, naturalism not considered proper
- Animal figures
- were made to express admirable qualities
- Do not have many objects that date back past the ______ century.
- 19th
- Antelope
- speed
- Snake
- swift movement or death
- Carved as Fetishes
- fetishes- objects possesing magical powers, could be protective or threatening
- Use of African Masks
- Were worn mainly in religious ceremonies related to births, deaths, growing of crops, and secret ceremonies, Masks were based o human or animal forms or a mixture of both,
- Benin Art
- Bronzes of Benin show great skill and beautifully made, also made sculptures in ivory (such as cups, combs, spoons, knives, statues and pendants.)
- More African Masks
- Masks thought to be sacred and locked up when not in use, woman not allowed to wear them or see them, some designed to be frightening (to scare women away) colors symbolic
- Tortoise
- old age
- Few Portraits
- realism was undesirable, Kings images were usually idealized
- Characteristics of Wood Sculptures
- Beauty, abstract, few portraits, carved as fetishes, animal figures
- Lizard
- life
- Early Art - Bushman
- Rock paintings and engravings, tell us of their nomadic lifestyle of Bushman, Rock art is about 8,000 years old
- Top of the Head
- sits on top of the head so that the face is usually covered by costume
- Nok Sculpture
- Made of terra-cotta, by means of trade they moved throughout West Africa, first discovered in 1931
- Wood Sculpture
- favorite activity of many African tribes, different styles, show common characteristics
- Abstract
- simplified and exaggerated most important features. Male and female genitals were emphasized to emphasize fertility. Naval is large and sticking out to show the continuity of life. Head is oversized to show it as the origin of knowledge and power. Still poses show the subject at rest. Carved from frontal veiws.
- Media used
- stone, bronze and terra cotta, MOST COMMON was wood, most works didnt survie becuase of environment
- Face Mask
- often had a stick in back, held in place with teeth, costume usually attached to the edges, few have survived
- Reasons for lack of appreciation:
- different from what westerners were used to, knowledge of african culture was limited, did not fit into their ideas of art
- Crocodile
- Strength