African Art

How does geographic location affect media and subject matter in art? Think-Pair-Share How does geographic location affect media and subject matter in art?

EOA and POD

                          Key Term: Africa- Located South of Europe and between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Africa is the world’s second largest and second-most-populous continent.

                          Key Term: African- a person from Africa or people of African descent.

Misconceptions African art was misunderstood by the Western world until the 1900’s. They believed their artwork was “primitive”. The term carries with it negative connotations of underdevelopment and poverty.  Colonization and the slave trade in Africa during the nineteenth century set up a Western understanding hinged on the belief that African art lacked technical ability due to its low socioeconomic status.

Inspiration Many famous Western artists were influenced by African art: Picasso Matisse

Ignored Their artwork was ignored because of other’s ethnocentrism. Viewed as inferior Realism was viewed as proper art until Modern art became popular.

                          Key Term: Ethnocentrism -judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture.

The African Artist Work of the artist can be: Functional (cups and bowls) Traditional (sculptures and masks) Contemporary (paintings, drawings, and ceramics)

Functional Traditional Africa was mainly functional. Fulfills requirements of everyday life: Clothing, housing, rituals, economic and political, war and entertainment. Secondary was for aesthetics

Original Artwork of Africa Rock drawings Carved human heads Sculptures (wood or terra cotta) Baskets Masks Musical Instruments Printed textiles

Sculpture Can be carved, engraved or molded and is 3-Dimensional. Generally symmetrical but can be naturalistic or conventional.

Masks Masks are one of the most recognizable pieces of the ancient past from Sub-Saharan Africa. They vary stylistically according to different tribes and cultures. The subject matter associated with most African masks is spiritual and ritualistic in nature. African masks served as an influence to many early 20th Century European artistic movements such as Cubism, Expressionism, and Fauvism.

                          Key Term: Mask- A covering worn on the face to conceal one’ identity for multiple reasons.

Materials Wood (common) Bronze Steatite (talc mineral) Leather

Styles of Masks Abstracted and sometimes forms of the human face. Some tribes incorporate animal features into their mask design. A mask may depict characteristic features from multiple animals. (ex. Crocodile teeth, zebra stripes, and bird feathers)

Purposes of Masks Spiritual and Religious Worn on special occasions (weddings, initiation rights, and funerals.) The wearer of the mask is said to serve as a medium of communication between the people and their ancestors.

Purposes of Masks Spiritual and Religious Some masks are designed to give the wearer the persona of a god in order to help cleanse their community of evil spirits. Used in ecstatic dances (interpreted as their god and ancestors coming to life inside of them).

Purposes of Masks Spiritual and Religious Incorporating animal forms with the mask design is an attempt to communicate with the spirits of nature and the animals. Some animal masks also represent specific values (ex. Buffalo=strength, Deer=bountiful harvest)

Purposes of Masks Entertainment Purposes Similar to European contemporary theater productions

Dressing Dress varies by geographic regions, lifestyles, and culture. Communicates a message and identifies the social status of the person. Dress for special occasions.

Jewelry Metal jewelry worn on the arms and legs is thought to be good for the bones. Amulets worn in the hair or on the body is thought to bring good luck. Beads are used to enhance romantic feelings.

Body Art African body art uses the human body as a way to express an individual’s status, spiritual beliefs, or ethnic affiliation. It can be created on the body itself in the form of tattoos, scarification, and body painting.

Body Scarification Used to demonstrate family groups and a decoration. Signs of beauty. Used in rituals and ceremonies to mark rank and social status.

Body Scarification Body scarification is an artistic expression and made in 4 common ways: 1. skin can be punctured with needles ritually purified in fire and rubbed with acidic substance like a nut to raise scars. 2. Scars can be made with a knife rubbed in ashes to create a relief pattern. 3. Irritating materials are inserted under the skin by needles dusted in ashes. 4. Razor blades.

Architecture Architecture is also a form of artistic expression. Egyptian pyramids, traditional stone houses of Zimbabwe, and European and American architecture is also an influencing factor.

Contemporary Art African art today includes paintings that can be hung on the wall. Recent developments in contemporary art is beadwork, bracelets, and glasswork. Evolution of African art is a result of social and physical mobility Artistic styles are being diffused.

                          Key Term: Culture- all the customs, habits, and ways of living that a particular group of people in a particular part of the world develop over time.

                          Key Term Clay- A soft, moist material used to create artworks such as sculpture and pottery.

Key Term Score- to scratch hatch marks into clay; to attach two pieces of clay together.

                          Key Term Bone Dry-without a trace of moisture.

                          Key Term Greenware- unfired clay.

                          Key Term Firing- Heating clay to the required temperature to harden.

Key Term Kiln- The furnace in which clay is fired to harden it.

                          Key Term Glaze- A glass-like surface coating for ceramics that is used to decorate and seal the pores of the fired clay.