| African art has always exhibited, exciting formal qualities, while lacking any kind of pretension. It was discovered in the 19th and 20th century, by the colonizers of West, and has been adapted ever since by modern artistes. Post this westernization, African art has become commercial, and is generally sold out as souvenirs.
Any kind of African art and aesthetics emphasize the expression of morality, and religious ideas. Africans use the same word for both “beautiful” and “good”; and that is the word, which rightly describes their art. According to the Africans, art should not only look beautiful, but it should also uphold goodness and high moral values. African art hence, pre-dominantly deals with human paintings, sculptures and masks. The basic elements of African art include, resemblance to human beings, luminosity, self-composure, youthfulness and clarity of form, detail, complexity of composition, balance, symmetry and smoothness of finish.
African art does not involve, “abstract” painting or paintings on a particular or specific image. It involves representing ideas, emotions and reality, usually depicted through images of humans and animals. Most African figural sculptures, are given a smooth lustrous finish, which indicates a healthy skin. Self-composure of sculpture, indicates controlled, proud, and a cool composure of a person. The youthfulness in the sculpture indicates human emotions symbolizing, vigor, energy, fertility and ability to labor. The paintings clearly portray the fine workmanship and mastery of the artistes over the medium. Africans, consider art as a routine, and a crucial aspect of their secular and religious life. African art emphasizes on the positive aspect and idea of life, and rarely on negative expressions. |
