Mask with Headdress, Deangle, We/Dan, Côte d'lvoire or Liberia, 20th century An introduction to African geographic, regional, cultural, and topographic diversity. Many people find looking at African art to be an puzzling experience. Often they look at a mask such as this and wonder "What should I know about this?" or "What should I be looking for?" The best and easiest place to begin is with your eyes and your mind. Use your eyes; look carefully at this mask. Notice the smooth lines of the wood, the rough texture of the headdress, and the shapes that make up the face. What else do you notice? Use your mind; what does this mask look like, how does it make you feel, do you like the way it looks? Considering if you like the way something looks is an important part of exploring art. However, traditional African art is a powerful embodiment of much more than its appearance. To begin to appreciate the true nature of these objects it helps to consider the following questions. "What should I know about the continent of Africa? How were these objects used? Why do these objects look the way they do? Are these art objects traditional or modern?" PART 1-PAGE 1 OF 4
SLIDE 1
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT AFRICA?
Introduction | Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Slide List | Museum Visit