Milwaukee Public Museum

The people of West and Central Africa have created one of the most dynamic and diverse art forms on the globe. Most of us are familiar of the contributions which Africa has made to music, dance and cuisine, but others may not be aware of the strong influence that African art has had on what we consider "Modern" art.

The carvings and castings of Africa were not created as "art" in our western sense of the term. Most were created for a religious context, or to commemorate ancestors or rulers.African arts are living extensions of an unseen world charged with supernatural power. They are a medium of awe, honor and respect.

African art is commonly executed in wood, metal, ivory, though other materials are used for artistic expression. Wood is the most common material and is shaped into masks, votive figures, or commemorative sculptures. Masks often employ additional materials, like shells, or can be made entirely from fiber.

Metal arts include sophisticated creations by the "lost-wax" casting technique. Ife, in Nigeria, was a center for this art form and the museum was fortunately to have possession of two original Ife bronze pieces for a period of time and were able to make accurate casts of them. The originals are now housed in the museum at Ife, Nigeria.

Ivory is a powerful material associated with a powerful animal. It is a royal substance and is often associated with shrines for kings and chiefs. Hippopotamus tusks were magically powerful and were made into protective charms.

Other media of aesthetic expression are weaving, ceramics, ironwork, and architecture. The Milwaukee Public Museum is fortunate to have an extensive collection of exceptional artistic forms deriving from Africa.