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— Courtesy: Evoluzione

Something special: Localisation of art produced by various tribes has given African art a distinct identity.

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.

Localisation 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.

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.

Strict conventions are followed while crafting statues: male statues are darker than the female ones; in seated statues, hands are to be placed on knees. Specific rules govern the appearance of Egyptian gods.

Egyptian paintings are painted to show a profile view, and a side view of the animal or person. They bring to life the mythology and heroes of ancient Egypt.

To clearly define the social hierarchy of a situation, descriptive perspective was utilised. Figures are drawn to sizes based on relative importance.

The Pharaoh or king is drawn as the largest figure no matter where he was situated, and a greater God is drawn larger than a lesser god.

These artistic standards — simple lines, shapes, and flat areas of colour combined with the characteristic flat projection of figures and no indication of spatial depth — create a sense of order and balance within a composition.

Ancient Egyptians used steatite (also called soapstone) and carved miniature vases, amulets, images of deities, of animals and numerous other objects. Enamel swathes were also applied to some stone works.

Antique works of art like statues, mugs, plates, beads, tiles and high quality decorative stone vases with African motifs are priceless articles, a rarity in today’s context.

Many art works of the period contain hieroglyphs that constitute an attractive feature of ancient Egyptian art.

The hieroglyphic script consists of a variety of pictures and symbols with independent and combined meanings.

Pictorial carvings of people, birds and deities were abundantly used to decorate several monumental structures, including many motifs. These included sacred beetle, solar disk, gazelle, leopard and vulture.

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