Description
“The bird in the art of West Africa” is perhaps one of the most frequently represented species in the universe of African ritual and artistic cultures. The catalog of the exhibition, explains and comments each object and reproduces all the pieces presented in their ritual or social context while discovering the culture and history of the main ethnic groups grouped Bambara, Dogon, Senufo, Bobo, Bwa, Mossi, Gurunsi (Nunuma, Nuna, Winiama, Lela) Tussian, Lobi, Baga, Nalu, Malinke – Akan (Ashanti, Baule), Dan, Fon, Guro, Yohure, Ewe – Yoruba, Edo – Ibo Mambila, Mama, Ogoni, through three major categories used – sculptures, masks and miniatures. The exhibits come exclusively from private collections. Most of them have never been presented. The authors have tried to gather cataloguese course “classics” such as large sculptures of Senufo bird beaked masks western Côte d’Ivoire, large animal masks voltaic Dogon locks … and many more but also lesser-known or rarely shown pieces Voires unpublished, seeking any sculpture where the bird is present or is involved in an allegorical and anecdotal scene. A large part was made these small brass or gold, called “Miniatures”, both of load cells Akan, pendants, rings or bracelets.