west african art
DESCRIPTION
West African Art. West African Art Emphasizes…. Sculpture and the Human Form Functionality – Art as a component of music, dance, ritual, social life. Anthropomorphism - the attribution of human characteristics to animals, gods or non-living things. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
West African Art
West African Art Emphasizes…
• Sculpture and the Human Form• Functionality – Art as a component of music,
dance, ritual, social life.• Anthropomorphism - the attribution of human
characteristics to animals, gods or non-living things.• Zoomorphism – the attribution of animal
characteristics to humans, gods or non-living things.• Nonlinear scaling – patterns of larger design
repeated in details
Motif1. A recurring subject, theme, idea,
etc., esp. in a literary, artistic, or musical work.
Examples: “The motif of the victorious underdog in American literature.” “The motif of the Good Shepard in Christian Art.”
2. A distinctive and recurring form, shape, figure, etc., in a design.
Abstract vs. Realistic• Realistic/Representational:
appearing true to life according to the way we see nature
• Abstract: does not represent natural forms; may look distorted
General Art VocabularyMedium/ Media• The materials used to create the image• Typical African media: Wood, ivory,
stone, metal, leather, clayProportion• The comparative size of different
elements within a compositionSymmetry • Correspondence of elements on opposite
sides of a composition.
Yoruba Ram’s Head MaskNigeria17th Century
Divination Cup19th CenturyPalm Nuts cast into cupUsed by Yoruba priest for prophecy
Divination Cup19th CenturyPalm Nuts cast into cupUsed by Yoruba priest for prophecy
Yoruba VesselNigeria17th Century
Veranda Post of Mounted Warrior and Kneeling Woman
Benin Bronze Plaque Depicting Chieftain Flanked by Warriors14th – 16th CenturyWest Africa -- Benin
Benin Bronze Plaque Depicting Chieftain Flanked by Warriors -- detail
Compare: Qaddafi with Female Bodyguards, Western Diplomat
Compare: Poster “Triumph of Lenin” 1933
Comparison – Poster of Chairman Mao with Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America
Ceremonial Sword
Yoruba Bracelet
Yoruba King, 15th Century, Nigeria
Art Vocabulary Abstraction Medium Shape
Line Color Texture Stasis/Dynamism
Elements INTENTMotif Gaze Focal Point