Large Carved Wood African Elephant Tribal Mask - 39" X 13" - Good Condition, Small Torn Left Ear, See Photo Ritual and ceremonial masks are an integral part of the traditional culture and art of the peoples of sub-Saharan and West Africa. While the specific meanings associated with ritual masks vary widely across cultures, most African cultures share some common characteristics: for example, masks often have spiritual and religious significance, are used in ritual dances and social and religious activities, and have special meaning. Status is attributed to the artist who made the mask and the person who wore the mask during ceremonies. For the most part, making masks is an art passed down from father to son, and an understanding of the symbolism these masks convey. Masks are one of the elements of African art that had the most visible influence on European and Western art. During the 20th century, artistic movements such as Cubism and Expressionism often drew inspiration from the rich and diverse heritage of African masks. The influence of this heritage can also be found in other traditions, such as the masked carnival parades in South and Central America. In most traditional African cultures, people wearing ritual masks conceptually lose their human identity and transform into the spirit that the mask itself represents. Transforming the mask-wearer into spirit is often based on other practices, such as B. Certain types of music and dance or ritual clothing help hide the identity of the mask-wearer. Thus, the mask-wearer becomes a medium that enables a dialogue between the community and the spirit (usually the spirit of the dead or nature). Mask dancing is part of most traditional African ceremonies associated with marriages, initiation ceremonies, etc. African masks are often modeled after human faces or animal noses, although sometimes in very abstract forms. The inherent lack of realism of African masks (and African art in general) is the fact that most African cultures clearly distinguish the essence of the subject from its appearance, the former but not the latter being the intrinsic subject of artistic expression. BAULE, BIOMBO, BWA, DAN, GOMA, KOTA, KWELE, LIGBI
