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Pick your art from across the world
One of the trends in doing up a house interior is to adorn the spaces with art from the continents away. Many of them especially tribal art from the different counties appear abstract and appealing even to modern sensibility. African art, Egyptian painting and hieroglyphics are some of the favoured objects. An introduction to some of these art objects and their cultural background will help us make a better choice.
The African continent has been a treasure trove of valuable art from prehistoric times to the present day. An essential component of secular and religious life, art production in Africa has been closely associated with rituals and tribal ceremonies, establishing a close connect between the two.
Localization of art produced by various tribes resulted in a distinct artistic identity emerging from three prominent geographical regions – Central, Southern and Western Africa. Natural resources dictated the materials and equipment used, while tribal power, wealth or sophistication was responsible for the variety of objects created.
Diversity
Figures in gold and bronze, carved images of tribal women holding bowls, funerary sculptures with geometric patterns are typical characteristics of art native from Congo. Elaborate ceremonial head-dresses, simple wooden masks with naturalistic expressions, statues and totems are a few noteworthy examples.. Dark wood sculptural figurines are representative of art belonging to the Ivory Coast. Terracotta was used abundantly to craft human head sculptures. Wooden or clay models depicting scenes from everyday life were popular additions to adorn tomb interiors. Surfaces of the figural sculptures are polished to high levels of luminosity and embellished with decorative etching that is an indication of shining and healthy skin.
These human figures are a demonstration of youthfulness that connotes vigour, productiveness and fertility.
Figures with rough surfaces and distortion are considered ugly and morally flawed. Illness and deformity, considered signs of evil, are rarely depicted.
It is imperative to display most African sculptures, especially masks and headdresses, at about eye level, because this is how they are seen on the heads of dancers.
African carvers attempt at creating visually appealing masks and headdresses that reveal different aspects as the dancer revolves before the audience.
DEEPTI ADLAKHA
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