art appreciation: art of africa and the pacific islands
DESCRIPTION
An introduction to African art and art of the Pacific Islands. Based on "Gateways to Art" (2012).TRANSCRIPT
Art of Africa & Pacific Islands
Art Appreciation, T, R, 9:30-10:50AM, Professor Paige Prater
Art of Africa: Map it!
Art of Africa: CHALLENGES
54 different countries, 955 million inhabitants, 1,000+ languages!
Wood Myth of “Primitive” art Contemporary traditions Oral histories Still discovering…
Ocher pigment + perforated shells; 70,000 years ago!
Nok: 500 BCE – 200 CE
Earliest evidence of iron technology (western Sudan, present-day Nigeria)
Head: center of identity & knowledge
Terracotta Head, Nok, 500BCE-200CE, 36cm, National Museum, Lagos, Nigeria
Ife (Yoruba peoples)
Sculpture (and dolls)
Crowned Head of a King, Ife, Yoruba, c. 12th- 15th century CE, Zinc brass, lost-wax method
Twin figure, probably from Ado Odo in Yorubaland, pre-1877 (probably 19th century). Wood, 10” high. Linden Museum, Stuttgart, Germany
Benin City, 150 miles southeast of
Ife Oral histories: 1170 CE,
Prince Oranimiyan sent to rule Benin (by oni of Ife).
1485 – Portugal begins trading with Benin Ivory, forest products…slaves
1897 – British sacked/burned royal palace after massacre of trade negotiators Early Period: 1400-1550
(influenced by Ife) Middle Period: 1550-1700CE
(increasingly stylized) Late Period: 1700-1897CE
(large/heavy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmrdunRXfbw
Plaque: Warrior Chief Flanked by Warriors and Attendants, Benin, Nigeria, 1550-1650CE, Brass
Benin – 16th century
Head= symbolic center of: Wisdom Intelligence Spiritual
communication King-like “Great
Head”
Memorial Head of an Oba, Benin, 16th century, brass, 9”
Yombe People Mediator Ritualistic Minkisi nkondi:
shells, bags, pots, or wooden statues Nkisi Mangaaka:
standing figure with magical properties; “activate”
Cowrie shell: currency, power, fertility
Standing male figure (nkisi Mangaaka), late 19th century. Wood, iron, raffia, ceramic, kaolin pigment, red camwood powder (tukula), resin, dirt, leaves, animal skin, and cowrie shell, 43¾ × 15½ × 11”. Dallas Museum of Art, Texas
Djenné (in Mali) – 200 CE - Present
Great Friday Mosque, 13th century (rebuilt 1907)
Great Zimbabwe Conical Tower in
Imba Huru or “Great Enclosure” 18’ diameter on
tower 30’ high 800 ft long
masonry wall▪ 17’ feet thick base
1200-1400CE Shrine?
Residence?
Great Zimbabwe: 1200-1400 CE
One of 8 soapstone carvings found on the top of Great Zimbabwe
5’ tall Bird, human, crocodile
characteristics Shona people:
birds=messengers from the spirits
Ghana: textiles Akan and Asante, west
African kingdoms Kente – worn by
royalty/state officials Complicated weaving
process http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0zlvW7o9
6I&list=PL0583B24FF6EA1A87 Color:
Yellow: holy, precious Gold: royalty, wealth,
spiritual purity Green: growth/health Red: strong feelings
(political/spiritual)Textile wrapper (kente), 20th century. Silk, 6’10⅝” long. National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Kongo: textiles
1482 – Portuguese encounter
Early 17th century 9 ½” x 28 ¼”,
raffia
Dogon of Mali: masks
Earthly and cosmic realms: crossbars
Loud performances Only for tourists,
today http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=whAY9R-_7ac
Kanaga mask from Mali, Dogon culture, early 20th century. Polychrome wood, leather cords, and hide, 45¼” high. Musée Barbier-Mueller, Geneva, Switzerland
Art of the Pacific Islands
Art of the Pacific Islands: GROUP WORK
5 Groups: 1. take example from textbook/2. compare to another work we’ve
studied3. Apply principles/elements of art
New Zealand Australia Hawaii Easter Island Papua New Guinea
New Zealand
Australia
Hawaii
Easter Island
Papua New Guinea