Exposicion de     AFRICAN TRIBAL ART

English

 ARTE NEGRO-AFRICANO     

African tribal beliefs, customs and social values have been transmitted from generation to generation over centuries through its art.
With no written history this has conferred an unjust aura of primitivism to African culture, at the same time an artistic tradition has been maintained avoiding outside influences, visible in both ritual objects and those of daily use where the sculpture has acted as historian and poet.
Balance, volumes, expression, the beauty of scarification and elegance of form seen in masks and statues all testify to the artistic sensibility of anonymous artists (another facet which characterizes these creations).
An aesthetic apreciaciation is inherent in African society. Objects are not created as purely decorative, so every piece is conceived to show the artistic ability of the carver, whether it is a ritual object, mask or statue, or something of daily use - a stool, spoon, headrest. Everything should carry a profound aesthetic sensibility.
A common thread of tribal art is the creation of statues to commemorate the ancestors as well as masks to be used in initiation, ceremonies, funerals or festivals.
Every tribe offers its own understanding of daily life and customs through sculpture, each giving an individual interpretation of beauty and contributing to the rich and fascinating art of Tribal Africa.
 

 Fernando Otero, Madrid 10/6/05

Over the last hundred years the influence that Africa has exerted on European art has been crucial, although often intentionally ignored. We have tried to show this here through ritual pieces such as masks, fetishes and ceramics and also with everyday objects; stool, doors and money.The artisans, while working within stylised limits, contribute their creative talents to make every object an unique example of their craftsmanship. Tribal culture binds art to religion and magic while playing an essential part in everyday life.

My interest in African art comes as a sculptor and designer from an aesthetic viewpoint with pieces collected on trips to Ghana, Southern Africa and Morocco; and bought from reputable dealers such as Fernando Otero, the curator of this exhibition, a professional with years of collecting experience, and from whose knowledge and objective approach, I have benefited enormously.

I hope too that you will enjoy, as much as I have, the pieces that we have chosen, offering a limited insight into the vast and fascinating world of African Tribal cultures.

David Marshall, Benaojan, 1/6/05

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