Mask with Headdress, Deangle, We/Dan, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, 20th century, wood, fibre, pigment, and feath
ersWHAT SHOULD I WRITE ABOUT THIS?
Many people find looking at African art to be a puzzling experience. Often they look at a mask such and wonder "What should I know about this?" or "What should I be looking for?" The best and easiest place to begin is with your eyes and your mind.
Use your eyes; look carefully at an African mask. Notice the smooth or rough lines of the wood, the type of texture of the headdress, and the shapes that make up the face. What else do you notice?
Use your mind; what does this mask look like, how does it make you feel, do you like the way it looks? Considering if you like the way something looks is an important part of exploring art. However, traditional African art is a powerful embodiment of much more than its appearance. To begin to appreciate the true nature of these objects it helps to consider the following questions. "What should I know about the continent of Africa? How were these objects used? Why do these objects look the way they do? Are these art objects traditional or modern?"
Most western and modern art is made to be hung on a wall or put on a pedestal and looked at. Traditional African art is functional; it is made to be used. Its purposes include being touched, talked to, danced with, slept with, sat upon, fed, worn as well as providing aesthetic impact and pleasure.
Masks can serve many purposes, including teaching, making laws, policing, entertaining, and contacting the spirit world.
Masks and other ritual objects are used only by certain people in the community. Usually these people must belong to a special group within the community in order to gain the right to use these special and powerful objects. Often, to join these groups people must undergo special training, trials, and tests before they can be initiated into (or join) these societies.