There is no official word
for art in any African language. In
Africa,
traditional art is created for life's
sake and not for art's sake. Art's
role is to define people's interaction
with their environment and the cycles
of their lives through ritual and
ceremony. Africans strive for a
oneness
with all things of the natural world;
masks and statues are the externalized
versions of this higher state of
consciousness. Thus, the ritual
masks and
statues are dwelling places for spirit
powers. The value of traditional
art
in Africa is functional, whether in
religion, home or society, rather than
aesthetic. Objects of art are not
intended to be static, instead they
should be worn or handled.The gallery setting
denies the natural function of this
collection by
displaying it. Yet Justin and
Elizabeth Lang seem to have understood
the
purpose of the art. The donation of
their collection to the gallery is
intended to encourage awareness of
African cultures. To experience the
true
spirit of Justin and Elizabeth Langs' African
art collection, Robert Swain,
the director of the Art Centre in 1985,
urged the viewer to "allow the
wonder of these objects to touch
you."
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