Africa - An Artist's Paradise (for Sandra46) by wysiwig
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Dispite what Sarah Pailin says Africa is not a country, it is a continent (hey, she said it not me). It is a continent of 54 sovereign states and 7 territories controlled by European nations. Over a billion people inhabit a land mass of 30.2 million square kilometers (11.7 million square miles. It is a place of amazing diversity of both culture and art.
Africa is considered by most paleoanthropologists to be the oldest inhabited territory on Earth, with the human species originating from the continent. In that sense we are all Africans.
On July 8 Sandra46 posted an image of an African shield from the Songye people of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=2081277&recent_upload&user_id=615428&member
Sandra included her usual excellent in-depth commentary on the shield, the Songye people and how African art has influenced Western creamy-pink people (thank you Chip). What I have realized is that most Westerners, Americans in particular, know very little about the rest of the world. It is easy to describe the incredibly diverse and creative output of Africans as “handicrafts” or “primitive”. So, inspired by Sandra’s post and the comments it generated, I have decided to post images of some of the art I have collected over the years from a continent that is decidedly not “dark” but filled with light.
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Image 1: Ivory Coast Dan Tribal Initiation Mask ~ This Dan mask is used during initiation ceremonies. These types of masks are made and worn exclusively, by male dancers. Dan masks are unique and only carved by initiated members of the male Poro society. The mask served to protect the young initiate against destructive or evil forces from the time of initiation, till he one day enters the spirit realm.
Image 2: Pende (Kwango) Mask, Mbuya Phumbu, Democratic Republic of Congo ~ This mask belongs to the category of dancing masks known as Mbuya. Mbuya depict several characters. Some are comic other are serious. This particular type topped with four horn-like hairstyle is said to represent the executioner or Phumbu. During the performances, the dancer of this mask holds in his hands the Phumbu, sacrificial knives.
Image 3: Mende Sowei-Sande Soociety Mask, Liberia ~ Though many works of art have come out of the Atlantic Guinea Coast region of West Africa few have as much prominence as the masks worn by the women of the Sande society of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Membership in Sande is exclusively reserved for women for it is the Sande society that initiates young girls into adult status. The masks known as Sowei are embodiments of ideal beauty and the precepts held by the Sande Society. This is a ‘helmet mask’ worn over the head with a dark costume attached to the small holes at the bottom of the mask, which completely covers the dancer as she whirls and dances with quick steps showing the spirit and power of Sande.
Image 4: Terracotta Funerary Figure, Cameroon ~ I purchased this on a trip to Kenya and have not found anything like it after searching the Internet.
Tomorrow I will share four more pieces with you and then we will go to Japan.
I don't say it often enough but thank you for all of your generous comments. It does inspire.
Comments (18)
Fantastic works of art you have here, Mark! Wonderful desriptions as well thank you for sharing these with us
Very interesting.
Very interesting to see and then read about these masks, and figure. Excellent images and information. Thanks for sharing them. I look forward to the next four and Japan!
You have a mask collection? Suddenly you go from being a very nice bloke to being an ESPECIALLY good bloke! SO interesting, Mark!
nice collage Mark , nice to see an artist photograhing works from other artist , excelent work , thanks for your comment and visit !
wonderful series!
These are magnificent pieces of art you have. I am a huge fan of primitive art (what a silly tag that is for this style) whether it is from Africa or North America or another continent. L=I really like your collage and it sets off each piece so nicely.
Beautiful series of pieces of art accompanied by interesting descriptions of them !Beautuful collage !
What special, expressive art! Very interesting, what is said, you can see so much of that in those faces.
I am sure Sandra will love this... and LOL at your Sarah Palin comment, have we heard the last from that one, lets hope. Fascinating artwork!!
beau collage!!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARK!!! i'm happy that you appreciated the Songye shield. I also have a small collection of masks and other objects from different parts of the world. I also have more images of non-European art, both popular and highbrow, as well as European popular art. I'll post some of them either in this series or in other series since it looks that this type of art has an appreciative public. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to seeing your next posting on Japan! Hugs, Sandra
Great art collection you have displayed so wonderfully with the fascinating history as well. They look like museum pieces. Wonderful!!
Great photos, but the text accompanying them is what I'll respond to. I can't agree more. If more people saw us as a unified world and not individual races, religions and nationalities, the world would be a better, more tolerant and richer place. Coming from America and moving to Australia has been in some ways an eye opening experience for me, particularly with regards to how much Australians know about what's going on in the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia and of course, the Americas. I think it's interesting that often I know more about what is going on in the US than some American friends, because the news here covers the US fairly extensively. Australian cricket is a sport played on many levels including an international level. The team often travels to Africa to play against teams like Zimbabwe. The view of Africa from here is very different from that of most of the US. I think it has to do with the fact that the US has only two "neighbors", Canada and Mexico. If you lived in Africa, or a European country, you'd have a lot more neighbors and what was going on in those places would affect you a lot faster than say if something happened in Mexico and you lived in Vermont. I wish more of the world would see people as people and not men and women, Christians and Moslem's, us and them. I wish people would realize we're all on the same boat and it's called Earth. We all have the same genetic makeup and the same red blood flowing through our veins. It's time to start breaking down the walls between peoples, that have separated us for so long. Thanks for reminding me.
very interesting, I agree and thank you too warm hugs, Linda
they are wonderful works of art .. lovely shot of them all
Wonderful collage, African masks and information. My wife no longer allows me in any store that sells masks from any country. Dana
incredible works of art! thank you for the explanation.