West African West African Masks Masks By Dana Munson & Adrianna Thomas Ppt from here
If you were to fold these masks in half they be the same on both sides.This is an
example of symmetrical balance.
•Artists hold a respected position in the community•Masks are valued for their spiritual quality•Part of a ceremonial costume •During ceremonies the masks come to life through music and dancing•Represents spirits of ancestors and controls the balance between good and evil
•Use materials from the Earth such as wood, terracotta clay pottery, raffia and textiles. •They are often decorated with cowrie shells, colored beads, bone, animal skins and vegetable fibers.•Sometimes metals such as bronze, copper and brass are also used.•Even the tools used for carving have spiritual qualities.
•20th century Artists such as Pablo Picasso and Andre Derain were inspired by African Art•Sparked the Cubism movement (objects are broken up and re-assembled in an abstract form)