African
Masks - The Elements of Style in an African Mask
There
are two main forces that influence the style of
an African tribal mask:
1.
The traditional style that is dictated by the social and
religious beliefs of the community.
2.
The individual vision of the carver.
African
tribal artists do not try to create a perfect representation
of their subject. Although
some realistic portraits are made, others celebrate more
abstract qualities like nobility, beauty, courage, mischief
and humour. They create an
idealised version, emphasising those elements that they
consider most important.
COMPOSITION
- Formal symmetrical arrangements of line, shape
and form in figures and masks evoke integrity and dignity.
TEXTURE -
Skilled craftsmanship, fine detail and quality of
finish are of great importance to the African tribal artist.
Highly polished surfaces which represent a youthful healthy
skin reflect the idea of beauty and virtue, while rough
dirty surfaces suggest fear and evil. Many African
carvings portray the idealised human figure in its prime,
brimming with health, strength, and celebrating fertility
or virility.
SHAPE
- African masks take on many forms. They can be oval,
circular, rectangular, elongated, heart-shaped, animal
or human, or any combination of these.
The
simplification and abstraction of visual elements in the
art of the African Mask emphasise its expressive power.
When we look at Expressionist art of the 20th century,
we tend to think of it as a European style. One look at
elements of African art shows you where this visual vocabulary
was born. |
