Unlike their Western counterparts, only very little art bears the individual stamps of their artists. African artists were sometimes requested to create specific artworks for a king or a leader, but most of the time these were created by several tribal artists that had to work according to tradition. But in spite of these restrictions, many African artists still managed to express their own techniques and imagination. If a new technique was proven to be good or practical, it easily became part of the artistic tradition.
So much of African art was created for religious purposes. Spiritism, magic, ancestor worship and many other aspects of the religions of African tribes are commonly reflected in their art. Artworks were also created for celebrating marriage, funerals and other festive occasions. While most Western artists value art for its own beauty, African artists seem to place tremendous value and meaning to the forms, arrangement of shapes and lines on each work of art. It is very rare for an African sculptor to create art just for the sake of creating something beautiful. Nearly everything an African artist does has a function and a purpose.
Sculptures were made to honor ancestors, gods and kings. Elaborate masks were created to be worn on festive occasions. Beads, trinkets and jewelry were mostly used to indicate wealth, adolescence, marriage, or personal authority. Guardian figures made out of clay or metal were fastened to coffins to invite good spirits that would protect the dead and chase away evil demons. Stools, spoons, bowls, combs, as well as a variety of other useful items were carved to make them a little more decorative. But the object of African art is always meant to be useful first and beautiful only second.
Masks were an important piece of art in Africa. The use of masks had an important role in the spirit world that dominated the lives of the African people. They were used at initiation ceremonies, for example, when a boy was accepted as an adult in the tribe. Their main purpose however, was to scare away evil intruders and spirits. Among the most admired and prized masks are those from Sudan region. These have smooth finishes and very graceful lines that show off the intricate craftsmanship of their artists. Sometimes the masks were decorated with feathers and other trinkets. African masks were designed to be worn on top of the head instead of over the face. Their designs were usually based on the horns of an animal reaching heavenward.
Another important form of metal sculpture in Africa is the gold weight. These weights were also made in bronze, copper, or brass. These small cast figures were made in various sizes and weights to measure quantities of gold. Most of these weights were made in what is now known as the Ghana and they were essential to the gold trade. The Ashanti tribe, which produced more gold weights than any other tribe, patterned figures after medicine men, reptiles, trees, plants and geometric designs. Aside from weights, Africans have also made jewelry out of gold. African women of all ages wore gold trinkets for ornamentation in. Men on great occasions also wore long gold chains and pendants. The African goldsmith was a masterful craftsman and created intricate work with 18 karat gold.
Africans were also very good at making handicrafts. They wove their own textiles bags, robes and other decorative products. The artists who created fabrics were usually women while all other paintings were left to the men. The designs were generally geometrical in nature.
Pottery was also an important craft in Africa. Bowls and stools were usually very functional and simple in design. It is their simplicity that makes them so interesting. They also made baskets, shoes, fans and rugs made of a coarse cloth called samfos or a fiber like raffia.
Pictures Of African Art
Each and every region of the African continent has its own special culture that helps in establishing an identity of its own. Despite this diversity in nature, there are some common artistic themes that bind various African art traditions together.
Human figure
The beauty of human figure has always attracted the African artists over centuries. In fact, human figures have always been one of the prime subjects for most of the renowned African painters, just like the popular tradition of wildlife paintings. In the various rock paintings and engravings, one can still find the drawings of human figures.
Elegant human figures, richly hued animals, and figures combining human and animal features have been painted on a large scale all over Africa. It is mainly due to the influence of African art traditions, that the human body got a new place in the pottery craft of European culture.
Abstract art
While studying the erstwhile African traditions, it becomes quite evident that most of the artists used to favour visual abstraction as compared to naturalistic representation. In most of the earlier African art works, be it original paintings, masks or pottery, one can easily notice an unmatched stylistic touch that is simply above this materialistic world. Moreover, African artists give preference to the usage of highly abstracted and regimented colours in their paintings.
Performance art
African artworks are not just simply eye-catching pieces. In fact, most of the traditional craft works such as masks, vases or pottery products have originated due to some specific performance connected with some ritual or ceremony. There is no such artwork in Africa that can be referred to as static when it comes to its usage.
To date, masks are used in communal and ceremonial contexts where dancing is required. Interestingly, just like there are different forms of dances representing different regions of a country, there are societies in Africa who are known for their unique masks.
Sculpture
One more unique feature of African artwork is the emphasis given by the artists on three-dimensional works as compared to two-dimensional. From original African paintings to pottery and face masks, everything is in three-dimensional box frames. Due to these features, a viewer needs to walk around it in order to admire the real beauty of a piece.
These are some very common elements that can be noticed in various African art forms developed by the ancient tribes and handed down through generations and are even being followed today by contemporary artists. The beautiful art works throw light on the rich and unique culture of this magical land.
Looking at their increasing demand amongst buyers from across the globe, there are a number of reputed online art galleries, which offer an unbelievable range of original paintings right from wildlife paintings to abstract art. In fact, if you are a fan of abstract paintings, there are also some well-known online art galleries who deal in original African abstract art and paintings.
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