Chief's Ceremonial Stool, Luba/Hemba, Zaire, 20th century WHY DID THE ARTIST CHOOSE TO USE THESE STYLES AND FORMS? This is a chief's ceremonial stool from the Luba or Hemba people of Zaire. The figure's stomach is decorated with designs representing scarification marks. Scarification is a process by which patterned cuts are made in a person's skin and then rubbed with ash to make raised scars. Some scarification is done to enhance a person's beauty while other scarification marks represent an individual's membership in a particular ethnic group or their rank in society. Scarification marks are a common form of body decoration throughout Africa. (What forms of body decoration do we perform in this country?) The figure's elaborate hairstyle and scarification marks tell us that this woman was of high status; she was especially important in her community. This figure's body may not look entirely realistic to us. Her arms are bigger and her legs are smaller than a real person's arms and legs. The artist who made this object emphasized the figure's arms to show that they are the most important and strongest part of the figure's body. Because she is symbolically supporting the chief, she must have especially powerful arms. By holding the stool on which the chief sits, the woman becomes the symbol, or a representation, of the support and strength of the kingdom. By noticing what is emphasized in an African art object, we can sometimes better understand the meaning or message of the object. PART 3-PAGE 4 OF 7
SLIDE 15
WHY DOES THIS OBJECT LOOK THE WAY IT DOES?
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