The Art of Africa

apprenticeship

bust

ivory

oba

pigment

ceremonies

functional

ritual

celebration

headpiece

mask

• There is no single African art style. Different cultures have different styles.

• Art is a part of all African cultures. Art is a part of their every day life

•Some African art is for just looking at. Most African art is functional, ritual, ceremonial and for celebration

•African art is always changing. It follows traditions of the past, present, and future.

Africa is a patchwork of societies, each with its own distinct religions, traditions, culture, and history. African art is different depending upon the history of each country.

Traditionally, In Africa there was not difference between art and life.

Where do we normally go to see art today?

Museums, galleries, and other public places

Art is used for:

• beauty

• tradition- honoring important people

• to bring good luck, good heath, and success in life

• religious ceremonies, rituals, and celebrations

• clothing in art was often used to tell things about the people

Possibly you are familiar with African masks and headdresses

Wood and metal are some of the most common materials used to create African art.

Artists also used clay, cloth, pigment, shells, skin, ivory, horns, feathers and bone

African artists also made:

thrones,staffsbuildingsdoorsfurniturebuildingsgrave markerspotteryweavingancestral and religious figurestextilesmusical instrumentsjewelryclothing

Artists in some African countries learned through apprenticeship.

Many artists planned and designed their objects. Making something beautiful was important not just for the eye, but because people believed that the “better” the object, the more help the item gave the person using it.For example, a better artwork would be more effective at influencing the gods or the weather.

apprenticeship- a period of a person’s life spent learning a craft or trade from another person

African art has influenced a lot of artist in the early 20th century. For example, Pablo Picasso admired and collected African art and incorporated it into his own art.

Walt Disney liked African art so much that he collected it and now has one of the largest collections of African art in the United States. Much of this art was used to inspire some of the Disney cartoons. Like, Lion King.

Bronze head of queen mother, Benin

Look carefully at this face.

Who might this person be?

What is this sculpture made of?

Do you think that this is what the woman really looked like?

What details help you to know that this was an important person?

Bronze is a metal that can be cast in a mold. Does anyone know how to make a sculpture out of bronze?

What is this?

What do you think this was use for?

Face mask, Songye people

What is this?

Why did they wear it?

What is it made of?

Apron, Ndebele people, South Africa

What is that?

What is it made of?

What was its function?

African Bamana Headress

Benin

Ife

Siere Lion, ivory sculpture

 The word tie-dye covers a wide variety of dye processes.

it is any dye process in which a pattern is produced by a resist from folding, twisting or tying material in any way you can think of.

Some type of tie-dye process was probably used shortly after the first fabrics and dyes were invented. I'm sure it didn't take very long for someone to discover that twisting or scrunching material before it was dunked in the berry juice produced a pattern, and from there it was a short step to adding some string or vines or something.

Henna painting is an ancient form ofbody art still practiced in Africa. Theartist makes a paste from the leavesof the henna plant, and uses thepaste to create designs on a person’shands and feet. Both males andfemales wear henna designs duringimportant events in their lives, likemarriage, and initiation into adulthood.In Sudan, the bride is decoratedwith henna as part of her weddingpreparations. The designs are thoughtto bring good luck and wealth to thewearer.

African Henna