SLIDE 21

Modern African City, Dakar, Senegal, 1979

IS THIS OBJECT TRADITIONAL OR MODERN?

WAS IT MADE FOR USE IN A TRADITIONAL AFRICAN CULTURE?

Westerners often think of African art as timeless and unchanging and this is simply not true. While looking at the African art displayed at the de Young Museum, we must remember that most of these objects were made within the past 100 years and that the continent of Africa has changed a lot during this time. During this century some regions of Africa have become very modern while other areas have remained more traditional. Not all Africans live in villages. Many Africans live in modern cities such as this throughout Africa. The African people who live in urban areas do not necessarily wear traditional clothing. They often dress much as we do in the United States.

Today many African artists are interested in modern art forms and modern art techniques. Unlike traditional African art that is made to be used, modern African art (such as sculptures, paintings, textiles, prints, drawings, and photographs) are usually made to be hung or displayed in a museum or gallery.

PART 4-PAGE 4 OF 7

Introduction | Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Slide List | Museum Visit