Traditional African art served a purpose (and does still in some cultures) as
an agent of religion, social stability, and social control
. Art that has a purpose is not unique to African or other non-Western cultures but occurs in Western ones as well.
What are the most important facts about African art?
Sculpture
– Sculpture was one of the most important types of art in Ancient Africa. Sculptures were mostly made of people and sometimes animals. African artists often used wood for their sculpture, but they also used bronze, terracotta, and ivory. Masks – Masks were an important part of art.
What materials were used by African artists?
Popular materials used were
wood, Ivory, Stone, metal, clay and fiber
. Of course, African artworks were not restricted to these materials. Early African artists used pigments for painting as far back as 73,000 years ago.
What makes African art unique?
Often depicting the abundance of surrounding nature
, the art was often abstract interpretations of animals, plant life, or natural designs and shapes. More complex methods of producing art were first introduced to Sub-Saharan Africa around the 13th century, along with the spread of Islam.
What are the types of African art?
Africa is home to a thriving and energetic contemporary art culture.
Painting, sculpture, metal art, gun art, photography, installation art, contemporary textiles and thread art, recycled art, printmaking, mixed media
, all these forms exist in Africa today.
What was the main subject in most African art?
Emphasis on the human figure
: The human figure has always been the primary subject matter for most African art, and this emphasis even influenced certain European traditions.
What is African art called?
African art, the
visual arts of native Africa
, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, including such media as sculpture, painting, pottery, rock art, textiles, masks, personal decoration, and jewelry.
What are the five elements of African art?
- Resemblance to a human being: …
- Luminosity: …
- Self-composure: …
- Youthfulness: …
- Clarity of form and detail, complexity of composition, balance and symmetry, smoothness of finish:
What is today’s art called?
What is
Contemporary Art
? A reference to Contemporary Art meaning “the art of today,” more broadly includes artwork produced during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. It generally defines art produced after the Modern Art movement to the present day.
What is African dancing called?
African dance is
polyrhythmic
—the simultaneous sounding of two or more independent rhythms in drummers and dancers, the relationship of rhythm to movement is key.
What does the head symbolize in African art?
Among the Yoruba in southwestern Nigeria, the head is
the wellspring of wisdom and seat of divine power (àse)
. The head is divided into the external head (orí òde), emblem of individuality, and the interior or spiritual head (orí inú), the life source that controls the outer head.
What are the 4 main categories of art styles?
Traditional categories within the arts include literature (including poetry, drama, story, and so on), the
visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
, the graphic arts (painting, drawing, design, and other forms expressed on flat surfaces), the plastic arts (sculpture, modeling), the decorative arts (enamelwork, …
What themes of art are most frequently explored in African art?
Revealing the importance behind some of Africa’s most beautiful art and culture are four common themes. These themes represent
ceremonial honor, mother earth and the people as her children, honor, and portrayal of a stranger
.
What Colours are used in African art?
“In European art, color is generally understood in terms of the primary colors red, yellow and blue,” says Karen Milbourne, the BMA’s curator of African art. “But throughout much of Africa, the primary colors are
red, white and black
.
How is death viewed in African culture?
Africans ordinarily do not encourage the contemplation of death or any discussion about their own or their loved ones’ death. According to the African belief system,
life does not end with death
, but continues in another realm.
What countries still use African masks?
- Bwa, Mossi and Nuna of Burkina Faso.
- Dan of Liberia and Ivory Coast.
- Dogon and Bamana of Mali.
- Fang (Punu) and Kota of Gabon.
- Yorubo, Nubo, Igbo and Edo of Nigeria.
- Senufo and Grebo, Baule (Guro) and Ligbi (Koulango) of Ivory Coast.
- Temne, Gola and Sande (Sowei) of Sierra Leone.
- Bambara of Mali.
