Australian Art Re-Blog - Queensland Gallery of Modern Art Blog

The Queensland Australia Gallery of Modern Art is hosting an exhibit titled "My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Australia" until October 7, 2013. This post can be found here http://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/current/my_country and features art like this piece 
Birmuyingathi Maali Netta Loogatha, Kaiadilt people, Australia b. 1942 | Sally Gabori, Kaiadilt people, Australia, b c.1924 | Warthadangathi Bijarrba Ethel Thomas, Kaiadilt people, Australia b. 1946 | Thunduyingathi Bijarrb May Moodoonuthi, Kaiadilt people, Australia 1929 - 2008 | Kuruwarriyingathi Bijarrb Paula Paul, Kaiadilt people, Australia, b c.1937 | Wirrngajingathi Bijarrb Dawn Naranatjil, Kaiadilt people, Australia, 1935 - 2009 | Rayarriwarrtharrbayingat Amy Loogatha, Kaiadilt people, Australia, b. 1942 | Makarrki - King Alfred's Country 2008 | Synthetic polymer paint on linen | Purchased 2009 with funds from Professor John Hay, AC, and Mrs Barbara Hay through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation | Collection: Queensland Art Gallery

This exhibit is located in Brisbane and piqued my interest particularly because of how we are concentrating on more historical works at times, or works that are not considered tied specifically to one intrinsic time period. This entire exhibit centers around the focus of the contemporary art from some of the other areas we may be studying and bringing the focus back onto it.

The concept I found inherently interesting here is that everything that is old becomes new again, or becomes studied again, or becomes worthy of note again. In the case of artwork, that is certainly true.

Three Faces of African Art

The theme of masking is prevalent in all of the areas of Africa we have studied thus far. These masks cover a wide range of uses and styles, making the art form one that is remarkably versatile but still one that translates across many cultural boundaries.

The first mask I’d like to focus on is the wooden helmet masks used by the Senufo people of the Ivory Coast region of Africa. These masks are actually more helmet like in function and have a large rectangular cut out n the center where the wearers face can poke through. On top, there are representations of either a male or a female with “concentric ringlike upper torsos without arms” and pointy hairstyles that resemble rooster’s red combs. These masks are used specifically for killing witches and are thus loosely tied to divination.

Second is the naturalistic work of the Ife in Nigeria. They have a particularly well defined realism to their naturalistic works in this community, and even drill holes in areas around their terra-cotta and brass castings so facial hair can be attached to make the art appear more realistic. This shows their true dedication to getting their subjects represented faithfully. These are usually tied to kingship or family.

Finally, the Kuba people of Zaire have some beautiful examples of the more eccentric and dramatic grotesque masks in their artistic repertoire. Their mask representing the sprit Bwoom is covered with many textures with cowries shells, beads and many different carving patterns as well as a protruding forehead representing a hydrocephalous bulge possibly. Though this mask is more bright and flashy, it still has many realistic elements, too. These masks were tied to kingship in particular. 

These three masks show that while they all represent wholly different things to significantly different cultures, they still have something distinctly similar at their core. This is the beauty of art, especially in these types of functional forms. 

LACMAs Collection of African Arts from the Luba Kingdom - reblog

The Luba Kingdom of Central Africa is highlighted by a collection of art shown by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.



The above Luba sculpture is a stool that royalty used according to the LACMA blog posting (link below), similar to some we have studied in other African communities in class.
http://lacma.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/a-home-for-african-art/

The similarities were very interesting because they were different groups than ones we have studied, but the art work, the premise of the stool being primarily for those of high social standing, and the workmanship still had strong ties.

While some of the various communities we have studied have had similarities, they have been more general in terms of types of work, or animals they have honored or had distinct ties to. This similarity to stools used by the Asante of Ghana was so striking to me that it was definitely noteworthy.

Other works shown by the Luba include masks that were rather anthropomorphic in nature that had holes along the chin to allow for raffia to be attached like masks from a variety of other groups.

Art of Africa, Oceania and the Americas - Initial Impressions

When you broach the topic of art, then open up the field of study to include geographic areas of Africa, Oceania and the Americas I almost feel like I don't know where to start. There are so many different variations of art to consider, view and appreciate. Each different type will have its own set of meanings and interpretations that represent a different set of values or mores.

Initially, I liked this aspect of the course overall because as someone who doesn't have much experience studying art I would like to cover more types and fields than typical. I'd also like to view and address some types of art that are less typical. As I mentioned in one of my previous message board posts, my sister and her husband got traditional Fijian tattoos on their honeymoon there - this was done respecting it as the artform it is. It was, oddly enough, my sister's very first tattoo as well. The tapping technique was fascinating to see (we viewed a video afterward) performed, and was very different from what we are familiar with in terms of the usual buzzing of a tattoo gun.

Within the initial framework of the course, I enjoy the use of voicethread because the interaction is easy to follow. It is also nice to be able to see extra examples of the art work in question.

I'll wrap up this initial impressions post with a photo of me about 16 months ago, at the National Gallery in Oslo. Who doesn't love, "The Scream"? Or "The Skrik" in Norwegian ;)