Africans and Black Americans Art Spotlight - Masks, Paintings, Prints, Sculptures, Jewelry, Clothing, Leather Bags, Djembes, Gift Certificates and more
Presented by EbonyWeb.us and Free-Wireless-Cellphones.com
Free Bluetooth Cell Phones and Cell Phone Accessories
Free Blackberry Cell Phones and Cell Phone Accessories
Free TV Cell Phones - Watch Television on Your Cell Phone
African art constitutes one of the most diverse legacies on earth. Though many casual observers tend to generalize "traditional" African art, the continent is full of peoples, societies, and civilizations, each with a unique visual special culture. The definition also includes the art of the African diasporas, such as the art of African Americans. Despite this diversity, there are some unifying artistic themes when considering the totality of the visual culture from the continent of Africa.
* Emphasis on the human figure: The human figure is the primary subject matter for most African art. In historical periods involving trade between Africa and Europe, the introduction of the human body into existing European pottery and other art forms can reliably be taken as evidence of contact with African cultures. For example in the fifteenth century Portugal traded with the Sapi culture near the Ivory Coast in West Africa, who created elaborate ivory saltcellars that were hybrids of African and European designs, most notably in the addition of the human figure (the human figure typically did not appear in Portuguese saltcellars).
* Visual abstraction: African artworks tend to favor visual abstraction over naturalistic representation. This is because many African artworks, regardless of medium, tend to represent objects or ideas rather than depict them. Even the so-called portrait heads of Ile-Ife in modern day Nigeria, usually thought of as naturalistic representations of rulers, have actually been smoothed and simplified in an effort to abstract and generalize stylistic norms. Ancient Egyptian art, also usually thought of as naturalistically depictive, makes use of highly abstracted and regimented visual canons, especially in painting, as well as the use of different colors to represent the qualities and characteristics of an individual being depicted.
* Emphasis on sculpture: African artists tend to favor three-dimensional artworks over two-dimensional works. Even many African paintings or cloth works were meant to be experienced three-dimensionally. House paintings are often seen as a continuous design wrapped around a house, forcing the viewer to walk around the work to experience it fully; while decorated cloths are worn as decorative or ceremonial garments, transforming the wearer into a living sculpture.
* Emphasis on performance art: An extension of the utilitarianism and three-dimensionality of traditional African art is the fact that much of it is crafted for use in performance contexts, rather than in static ones. For example, masks and costumes very often are used in communal, ceremonial contexts, where they are "danced." Most societies in Africa have names for their masks, but this single name incorporates not only the sculpture, but also the meanings of the mask, the dance associated with it, and the spirits that reside within. In African thought, the three cannot be differentiated.
Don't forget to share this website with a few of your friends ...
Discover the Beauty of African Arts & Gifts
All about African Art ...
African Arts and Gifts
Buy African Art, Sculptures, African Masks, Djembes, Leather Bags, Traditional African Clothing, Handcrafted Jewelry, African Home Decoration and much more!
African Art Videos
All about African and Black Art ...
Sit back, relax, watch and enjoy these African Art Videos prepared and presented for your pleasure and enjoyment on YouTube.com!
Discover the Beauty of African Arts & Gifts
All about African Art ...
African Arts and Gifts
Buy African Art, Sculptures, African Masks, Djembes, Leather Bags, Traditional African Clothing, Handcrafted Jewelry, African Home Decoration and much more!
African Art - Area of Influence
All about African Art ...
African art has a long and surprisingly controversial history. Up until recently, the designation "African" was usually only bestowed on the arts of "Black Africa", the peoples living in Sub-Saharan Africa. The non-black peoples of North Africa, the blacks of the Horn of Africa, as well as the art of Ancient Egypt, generally were not included under the rubric of African art. Recently, however, there has been a movement among African art historians and other scholars to include the visual culture of these areas, since all the cultures that produced them, in fact, are located within the geographic boundaries of the African continent. The notion is that by including all African cultures and their visual culture in African art, laypersons will gain a greater understanding of the continent's cultural diversity. Since there was often a confluence of traditional African, Islamic and Mediterranean cultures, scholars have found that drawing distinct divisions between Muslim areas, ancient Egypt, the Mediterranean and indigenous black African societies makes little sense. Finally, the arts of the people of the African diaspora, prevalent in Brazil, the Caribbean and the southeastern United States, have also begun to be included in the study of African art. Discover the Beauty of African Arts & Gifts
All about African Art ...
African Arts and Gifts
Buy African Art, Sculptures, African Masks, Djembes, Leather Bags, Traditional African Clothing, Handcrafted Jewelry, African Home Decoration and much more!
African Art History
All about African Art ...
The origins of African art lie long before recorded history. African rock art in the Sahara in Niger preserves 6000-year-old carvings.[4] The earliest known sculptures are from the Nok culture of Nigeria, made around 500 BCE. Along with sub-Saharan Africa, the cultural arts of the western tribes, ancient Egyptian artifacts, and indigenous southern crafts also contributed greatly to African art. Often depicting the abundance of surrounding nature, the art was often abstract interpretations of animals, plant life, or natural designs and shapes.More complex methods of producing art were developed sub-Saharan Africa around the 10th century, some of the most notable advancements include the bronzework of Igbo Ukwu and the terracottas and metalworks of Ile Ife Bronze and brass castings, often ornamented with ivory and precious stones, became highly prestigious in much of West Africa, sometimes being limited to the work of court artisans and identified with royalty, as with the Benin Bronzes.
Great African Art Stuff at Amazon
All about African Art ...
Save Money on African Art right here from Amazon.com!
African Art - African Mask - Light Switch Covers - 2 plug outlet cover
African Mask Light Switch Cover is new and handcra more...1 point
African Art - African Mask - Light Switch Covers - 2 plug outlet cover
African Mask Light Switch Cover is new and handcra more...1 point
African Art - African Mask - Light Switch Covers - 2 plug outlet cover
African Mask Light Switch Cover is new and handcra more...1 point
African Abstract Sweatshirt
Gildan - Crewneck Sweatshirt
A value fleece, made f more...1 point
AFRICAN IMAGERY ART LAMP - 20 %Off
The artist's vision of bold shapes, colors and lin more...1 point
Wine Rack made w/ Recycled Glass & Metal by African Artisans - Black
Storage for four of your favorite wines in this ha more...1 point
African Art - African Male Chi-Wara - Tile Napkin Holders
African Male Chi-Wara Tile Napkin Holder is measur more...1 point
African Art - African Male Chi-Wara - Trivets
African Male Chi-Wara Trivet is measuring 8w x 8h more...1 point
Baaba Maal - Live at Royal Festival Hall
Baaba Maal - Live at Royal Festival Hall1 point
Wood walking stick, 'African Elephant'
NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, s more...1 point
African Art - African Mask - Tile Napkin Holders
African Mask Tile Napkin Holder is measuring 6w x more...1 point
African Art - African Mask - Tile Napkin Holders
African Mask Tile Napkin Holder is measuring 6w x more...1 point
African Art - African Mask - Tile Napkin Holders
African Mask Tile Napkin Holder is measuring 6w x more...1 point
African Art - African Mask - Trivets
African Mask Trivet is measuring 8w x 8h x .75d. M more...1 point
African Art - African Mask - Trivets
African Mask Trivet is measuring 8w x 8h x .75d. M more...1 point
African Art - African Mask - Trivets
African Mask Trivet is measuring 8w x 8h x .75d. M more...1 point