THE TRIBAL ART

Tribal art and modernism have long gone hand in hand. Pablo Picasso and Amedeo Modigliani, for example, were both fascinated by African masks, and incorporated elements of these designs into their paintings, including the former’s celebrated Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.

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ULTRA-SLEEK DESINGS

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Today these most intriguing of artefacts are often used as a stylistic counterpoint to contemporary interiors, adding a rustic, artisanal element to otherwise ultra-sleek designs.

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THE SPIRITUAL ELEMENT

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Since every mask has a specific spiritual meaning, most traditions comprise several different traditional masks. The traditional religion of the Dogon people of Mali, for example, comprises three main cults; each of these has its pantheon of spirits, corresponding to 78 different types of masks overall. 

MATERIALS AND STRUCTURE

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The most commonly used material for masks is wood, although a wide variety of other elements can be used, including light stone such as steatite, metals such as copper or bronze, different types of fabric, pottery, and more. Some masks are painted (for example using ochre or other natural colorants). A wide array of ornamental items can be applied to the mask surface; example include animal hair, horns, or teeth, sea shells, seeds, straws, egg shell, and feathers. For example, animal hair or straws are often used for a mask's hair or beard.

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MEDIA GALLERY