African+Art


 * Most African art was never meant to be displayed. It was meant only for temporary viewership. In fact the most highly prized African art pieces are rarely seen. Most art is intended for viewership because it has a story to tell. However African art is shrouded in secrecy. An article is quoted saying "The essence of African art maybe be that in seeing you do not see". African art was never meant to be kept and enjoyed my individuals, but rather it was meant to be used by the community  . African art is unique in that the artist are not tied by earthly forms. **

** In the past, it had to be brought to the attention of archaeologist, that they were not studying African art in a way that brought meaning to the subject. Archaeologist were looking at African art from a western point of view and not comprehending the philosophical  matters behind the subject. Objects view by Westerners may be seen as just ordinary every day objects, when in fact there is great significance in them. African art is still seen as primitive  eventhough that word has mostly been expunged from archaeology vocabulary . Instead of using the word " primitive" , it should be replaced by the word "traditional". This change too, however, brings about controversy. Using the word traditional for African art seem to say that the African art form is stuck in the past and therefore cannot hold up to the contemporary standards of Western art. ** ** There is no word art in the African language. This is a testament that it is not meant to be viewed in the same way one would view Western art. Instead words such as decorated, beautified, and embellished are used. The Mande people give spiritual <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> names to their "art" objects. Some objects may not even be view as art in Western eyes, such at the headrest pictured above. However in the eyes of the local people it holds ****<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> the symbolic meaning that most African art holds. **