Exploring the Richness of African Art: 6000 B.C.E. to Now - Essay Sample

Introduction

African art constitutes of diverse legacies as compared to other territories in the world. Despite many views and opinions on the general nature of African art, the notion of generalizing it into traditional African art misses on the point of interaction with the diverse societies, culture, people, and unique visual representation of different artistic views. African art is dated back to 6000 B.C.E, where art was in the form of rock drawings that revealed different expressions, such as the culture of hunting and gathering and tribal differentiation. Tribal art was a common measure of differentiating different tribes that would occur in different forms, such as scarification, sculptural masks, and body paint. The diverse nature of African art is also predetermined by the geographic locations of the artists, where factors such as tribal power, natural resources, and wealth determined the artistic objects produced.

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Thematic and Stylistic Trajectory of African Art

African art has, in most cases, been related to tribal ceremonies and rituals, as they recently acquired a new role in decorative functions. However, the function of the object or piece of art is not always clear, as the artists rarely have a status equivalent to that of a western artist who depended on public or local support to increase their production (Nzegwu 49). The origins of most African art dates back to before recorded historical texts. The earliest known structures of art are based in modern-day Niger, Nigeria, Egypt, and in many areas within sub-Sahara Africa (Dutton 121). Most of these artistic features are often representations of naturally occurring elements like plant life, animals, natural designs, or local civilization. However, as man advanced, the artwork was refined to include advancements such as bronze art from the Igbo Ukwu, metalworks, and even brass cuttings (Golovko). However, African art, in general, is unified by similar artistic themes that consolidate the visual culture of the African continent.

Emphasis on the Human Figure

African art uses the human figure as the primary subject of their artistic meaning. In history, the beginning of trade between Africa and Europe was the point at which African artists began introducing the human body on pottery. Other forms of art during this era were evidence of contact with other African cultures. For instance, the Portuguese traded Sapi culture in the Ivory Coast in West Africa, who, in turn, traded hybrid ivory saltcellars that represented an integration of African and European designs, mostly with the addition of a human figure (Golovko 241).

Visual Abstraction

African art designs have a visual representation of naturalistic elements. The rationale behind such innovative designs is because most African arts are a representation of ideas or objects rather than representations of the artists. For example, in Nigeria, the portrait heads of the Ile-Ife, which were initially thought to be a natural representation of rulers, have been simplified and smoothed to represent different stylistic norms (Gerdes 85). Similarly, Egyptian art, s equally naturalistic in the description, by using simplified visual traditions in their form of painting and colors to represent different characteristics of the symbol or individual being represented.

Emphasis on Sculpture

African art is often based on three-dimensional designs over two-dimensional concepts. These concepts are equally incorporated in paintworks and cloth works. In many instances, viewers of artworks such as house paintings are forced to view the piece while going round to get a full experience of the concepts behind the design. Particularly, the cloths used for ceremonial or decorative garments transforms the art or wearer into a vivid representation of a living sculpture (Gerdes 88).

Performance Art

The concept behind the three-dimensionality and utilitarianism of traditional African art is that most of the final pieces are incorporated in performance-based contexts rather than static contexts. For example, the creation of costumes and masks were mainly intended for dance ceremonies or communal contexts (Gerdes 95). Most of the masks created in African societies have different names and are made for different occasions, different dance ceremonies, and are believed to have spirits reside within. These three elements were crucial in art creation.

Characteristics

Most of the African art is valued for entertainment; or may hold an ideological or political significance, while in other cases, most of the art is created in a ritualistic context. However, it is important to note that not all African art combines all these elements as one. There are part-time and full-time artists, depending on their expertise and societal establishment, whether they are despised or have public favor (Nzegwu 59). However, whether traditional or contemporary, within the context of any African society, art is not only a skill but is an extension of African culture that outlines their traditions, and even define a historical expression of the influence of European culture in art and design. Unlike Western art, African art is not discriminated based on intellect, social or economic factors, but is a representation of African tradition and expressions of the natural elements that represent the African tribe (Dutton 124). The diverse nature of art in the African continent necessitates the need to view different designs by understanding the local artistic virtues in place rather than examining them from external influences.

Different areas have different ways in which they define their art. Whereas most Western artists have a similar representation of their mood or inspiration, African art uses colors, paint, cloth work, and costumes. However, it is important to note that the resource used in the design of each piece of art varies in terms of color, choice of resource, and context. African art is not defined by pottery or paintings, and in many cases, was mistaken for craftwork for the mere reason that it could not be collected (Golovko 243). African artists did not design anything for leisure or as a hobby but had a purpose, either ritualistic or ceremonial, and as such did not regard their work as an artistic pleasure.

As such, the characteristics of African art may be summarized into unique innovation and creativity, conventionalization and visual simplification, asymmetry and composition, the transformation of the human body, a diverse multiplicity of definition, and the use of music, dance, and body ornaments as well as masks and sculptures (Gerdes 97). Each art is unique to its inventor, and has significance and drive to different artistic representations.

Traditional Art vs. Contemporary Art

Africa is well known for its increased diversity in contemporary culture. Sadly, it was not until recently that scholars began to differentiate between contemporary and traditional art. Examples of some contemporary artists include Olu Oguibe, Bill Bidjocka, Yerihun Yetmgeta, and Lubaina Himid. Different museums showcase different contemporary art, with most of these pieces being highly valued and are even sold in auctions. African artists, however, face the challenge of finding markets to showcase their work (Sadler 75). It is important to note that contemporary art borrows a lot from traditional African art.

Traditional art is most popular around the world and are in most museum collections in the world. The art often comprises of wooden masks which could be representations pf natural elements such as animals, humans, and preexisting or imaginary creatures that were thought to have existed in African traditions (Nzegwu 77). Most of the art originated from Western Africa; however, it is important to note that traditional art was a widespread culture in the African continent. Unlike contemporary art which is made for sale, traditional art is predetermined by different contexts such as initiations, war, celebrations, rituals, and religious acts. In most instances, the designs were uniquely made to meet the requirements of different social functions and were believed to represent ancestors or spirits (Sadler 89). Traditional artists used natural resources to decorate their designs such as pigments, plant fibers, gemstones, and ivory. The two types of art, however, have similarities like the use of decorative clothing, which cements the unique nature of African art and culture. Body art and strip-woven designs, and even masks and costumes remain relevant in the artistic community, attracting a large number of regional and international viewers.

Conclusion

Despite having a controversial history, African art still cements the foundation of African culture and tradition, incorporating new trends to mark different changes in history. In many African countries, the use of masks, body arts, and costumes remain significant in different ceremonies such as marriage, harvesting, and some religious rituals. However, due to migration and cultural diversity, African art is no longer restrained by geographical dispositions, but is, however, integrated to create a new meaning to the value of culture and tradition.

Works Cited

Dutton, Denis. "But they don't have our concept of art." Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art: The Analytic Tradition, An Anthology (2018).

Gerdes, Paulus. "On some geometrical and architectural ideas from African art and craft." Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future. Birkhauser, Cham, 2015.

Golovko, Ekaterina. "Ontological Distances: Contemporary Art, African Masks, and Western Museums." Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art 2019.44 (2019).

Nzegwu, Nkiru. "African Art in Deep Time: Deraceing Aesthetics and Deracializing Visual Art." The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 77.4 (2019).

Sadler, Michael. "Significance and vitality of African Art." Arts of West Africa. Routledge, 2018.