I chose the theme “Ghosts of the Sahara” for my third art gallery, mostly because everything in my gallery that I chose was extremely haunting. It is almost as though every single piece that I have chosen, reminds me of death, and fills me with a sense of dread. So many pieces of African art are so incredibly different than art from the rest of the world. It seems as though African art is tied more closely to their daily life than artistic mediums from elsewhere around the world, such as Europe for example. To me, this makes the African medium much more personal, and I know that each work meant something in the life of the creator. Because of this, I feel I am left with a sense of abandonment and I can almost feel the life of the people behind the artworks simply by gazing at their organic appearances. I think the organic appearance of the works makes all the difference too. With the Makonde Mask, I immediately am greeted with a sense of slight familiarity because I notice that he looks exactly like a real man, except he also appears a shell of a man, which is why I included that mask in this gallery. The Mwana Pwo Mask is also in a way quite realistic, however, it struck me for a different reason. It seems as though the mask is of a woman asleep. It creates a sense of unease in me, and yet at the same time appears beautiful as though it were a funerary occasion. Because of this, I incorporated it into this gallery. All of the art works in this gallery, however, have a haunting appeal to them, they are organic and alive, yet represent death in a very real way to me. Because of this undead-like quality, I named this gallery “Ghosts of the Sahara”.
Mask, Unknown, Makonde peoples, 19th century - 20th century, From the collection of: Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
This mask is my favorite all time piece from my selection of artworks. I think it embodies the sense of a “ghost”, as it represents the true look and feel of a human being who had at one time lived in Africa. In fact it seems as though the mask is an actual face represented in my gallery. It has the strange look of someone who had just recently died. I like the fact that the artist used real human hair, and I think that adds to the look of being a dead African person. It evokes a sense of dread as well, with the glazed over, still look that it has, it is eerily creepy. I also am very intrigued by the fact that the skin pigmentation is so incredibly and unarguably rich in detail and thickness. I also like how this mask differs from so many other African masks that I have seen in the past. I think this is great that the mask doesn't look surreal, it doesn't have the appearance of an animal, no, in fact it looks very much like an actual person of that time, making it all the more ghoulish and creepy. Very realistic and awe-inspiring. As I had said before, I think it adds to the theme “Ghosts” because it is so incredibly realistic while at the same time having the appearance of death with real human hair. I feel like the meaning of this mask is the incorporation and acceptance of the modern culture at the time, considering that he looks like a mid-late 19th century man.
Divination Object (Gle), Unknown, late 19th or early 20th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Mask for the Okuyi Society (Mukudj), Unknown, late 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Kuma Mask, Unknown, late 19th-early 20th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Feast Ladle (Wunkermian), Unknown, early 20th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Reliquary Guardian Figure (Boumba Bwiti), Unknown, late 19th or early 20th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Soldier with hat and rifle, Unknown, Mende peoples, 20th century, From the collection of: Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
Funerary Headdress (Tugunga), Unknown, late 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Medicine gourd in a chair, Unknown, Kwere peoples, late 19th century - early 20th century, From the collection of: Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
Bwami Society Maskette, Artist Unknown, African, Lega Peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1900/1975, From the collection of: University of Michigan Museum of Art
Bow Stand (Nsakakabemba), Unknown, 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Cap Mask, Unknown, Late 19th century, From the collection of: Cincinnati Art Museum
Power Figure (Nkisi Nkondi), Unknown, 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Female Figure with Horn (Kaponya), Unknown, late 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
“Gelede” Mask, Unknown, 1800/1899, From the collection of: Museo Nacional de Antropología, Madrid
Ceremonial Hoe, Unknown, 20th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Emblem of the Leopard Spirit Society (Nkpa), Unknown, 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Koran board ("Allo"), Unknown, Hausa peoples, 1950 - 1960, From the collection of: Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
Personal Miniature Mask (Ma Go), Unknown, 19th or 20th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Mother with Child (Lupingu Lua Luimpe), Unknown, 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Ibeji Twins, Unknown, Yoruba People, date unknown, From the collection of: The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum
Asen Altar, Akati Akpene Kendo, late 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Soul Container (Eraminhô), Unknown, late 19th or early 20th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Palm Wine Cup (Mbwoongntey), Unknown, 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Mask (Pwoom Itok), Unknown, late 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Divination Board for Ifa Priest, Unknown, From the collection of: Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Effigy: Ritual Figure Holding Scepter, Unknown, Baule People, ca. 20th Century, From the collection of: The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum
Lipiko Mask, Unknown, 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Pair of Headdresses (Ci Wara Kunw), Bamana, Mali, Baninko region, Mid-19th/early 20th century, From the collection of: The Art Institute of Chicago
Bed legs, Unknown, -0800/-0300, From the collection of: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
Mask, Unknown, Dan peoples, 20th century, From the collection of: Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
Antelope Headrest (Chi wara kun), Unknown, Mid 20th century, From the collection of: Cincinnati Art Museum
Water Pipe, Unknown, 19th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Housepost, One of Pair, Unknown, late 19th or early 20th century, From the collection of: Brooklyn Museum
Palace Door, Arowogun (Areogun) of Osi, early 20th century, From the collection of: Minneapolis Institute of Art
Mask (mwana pwo), Artist Unknown, African, Chokwe Peoples Angola, 1885/1895, From the collection of: University of Michigan Museum of Art
This mask is my second favorite piece out of the entire gallery. I think that it embodies a very crystal clear feminine ideal of Africa. I placed it into my gallery entitled “Ghosts”, because to me it represents someone who has died and is waiting to be awoken from a deathly slumber. I like the choice of coloration on the outside of the mask and I also like the way that it rests back on its head. I think the part that makes it seem so femenine is the slenderness of the face combined with the long hair and ear jewelry worn on the mask. This is the first mask that I have seen that depicts a female form, so it is nice to have that be shown as well. The figure, to me, seems ready to be awoken at any moment, giving me a sense of unease upon looking at the mask. It seems as though if the mask were to come alive that the outcome would be frightening. At the same time, however, there is a distinct beauty to the feminine aspect of the mask, creating a sense of curiosity as to what the intention of the artist was in creating it. It is quite haunting, however, and fits perfectly in my “Ghosts of Sahara” gallery.
Credits: All media
This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
Cincinnati Art Museum
The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Museo Nacional de Antropología, Madrid
The Art Institute of Chicago
Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
Brooklyn Museum
Los Angeles County Museum of Art