Masterworks of African Art: Yoruba Images and Aesthetics
|
|
U-M Museum of Art: 525 S. State St. , Ann Arbor, Michigan USA Information: (734) 763-UMMA.
|
November 13, 2004–May 8, 2005 
Seated Figure (Oyá) with Beaded Collar
late-19th-early-20th century
Carved wood, beads, cloth
Collection of Robert M. and Lillian Montalto Bohlen
Although the works on view in this exhibition are aesthetically powerful, the Yoruba people see them in a broader context. To the original makers and users of these objects, their beauty was more than "skin deep," deriving from finely worked surfaces or expressive form. The significance and value of a work of art within the Yoruba cultural context relates to the extent to which it embodies Yoruba ideals of character, individuality, and one's relationship to the social order. As ritual objects, these works featured in this exhibition marry ideals of physical beauty with corresponding virtues celebrated by the culture, providing guidance to the Yoruba people as they live their lives, make peace with the gods, and maintain connections to their ancestors.
Masterworks of African Art: Yoruba Ideas and Aesthetics was guest curated by Michael Kan, Curator Emeritus of African and Oceanic Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and by David T. Doris, Assistant Professor of African Arts and Visual Culture at the University of Michigan, Department of the History of Art and the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies. The gallery commentary for this exhibition was written by Professor Doris and students in his First Year Seminar in Yoruba Visual Culture, with additional contributions by Michael Kan and by seventh-generation Yoruba diviner and ritual specialist Kolawole Oshitola. The bringing together of these diverse and deeply informed interpretive "voices," provides multiple ways to engage with, better understand, and enjoy the exceptional works of art on view.
Research funding for this exhibition was made possible by Robert M. and Lillian Montalto Bohlen. The exhibition and its accompanying publication have been made possible by TIAA-CREF, with additional support provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Education, the Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and The Atlantic Studies Initiative.
find out more at http://www.umma.umich.edu/HTML/bottomexhibitions.html
'Dark Continent' art celebrated in UMMA exhibits
Program accents shows of work from Lega culture in Central Africa
Sunday, November 14, 2004
BY JOHN CARLOS CANTU
News Writer
In the event this season's gray is already starting to get you down, take a trip over to the University of Michigan Museum of Art: Africa's color is breaking out all over the place.
This month is seeing one of those planned conjunction of stellar exhibitions whose theme coincides with a single topic. In this instance, what was once called the "Dark Continent" is going to prove it is anything but monochromatic.
The chief attraction is the "The Art of the Lega: Meaning and Metaphor in Central Africa," in the museum's spacious West Gallery - an array of masks, spoons, baskets and abstracted figurines illustrating the aesthetics and spiritual life of the Lega people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Also on display is the next installment of "Masterworks of African Art." In this segment, the Yoruba people of southern Nigeria will be featured. This exhibit has been guest curated by Michael Kan, curator emeritus of African and Oceanic Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and by David T. Doris, assistant professor of African Arts and Visual Culture at the U-M art history department and Center for Afro-American and African Studies. The display features Yoruba ideals of character and the individual's relationship to society.
(...)
"Art of the Lega: Meaning and Metaphor in Central Africa" will continue through Jan. 16 and "Masterworks of African Art: Yoruba Images and Aesthetics" will continue through May 8 at 525 S. State St. For information, call (734) 763-UMMA.
Masterworks of African Art: The Congo Basin
Masterworks of African Art
will explore the aesthetic and visual power of African art made by peoples along
the Congo River Basin. Guest curated by Michael Kan, former Curator of African
Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts, the project is the first of three
exhibitions devoted to exploring several different regions of the African
continent. Drawn from private collections in the region and those of University
of Michigan alumni, the works on view have all been chosen for their exemplary
aesthetic qualities. The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to see works not
frequently available to the public and to explore the uses and ritual roles of
these art objects in their cultural settings.
This exhibition is already past, read about it at african art exhibition at UMMA : Michigan Museum of Art
| |
Dear African Art Collectors,
Discover the African Art books
I like
African
Antiques is the archive and not growing much anymore but still updated.
Visit African
Art for recent African Art News.
For extended news about Michigan-UMMA-Congo-Basin join our African
Art Club and become an insider, to enter you'll need to pay a small monthly
fee .
And if you are a collector of African Art,
have a look at our exclusive African
Art Collection .
David Norden
--------------------------------------
african art | home
| african art shop
Mail
David Norden
Sint-katelijnevest 27
ANTWERPEN-Belgium
Any questions?
Call us at +32 3 227 35 40
Jean-Paul Barbier-Mueller
In
this section:
Home
Up
Michigan UMMA
Art of the Lega
Michigan-UMMA-Congo-Basin
partners
:
zemanek | Buy
African Antiques | discussion
group En | groupe
de discussion Fr
Books:
The
Tribal Arts of Africa
Author: Jean-Baptiste Bacquart
African Art books I like
Sites
Roll:
tribal tatoos | mint
robot
African Art Amazon books | African
Art Books
African
Arts news , Oceanic, Pre-Columbian
African
Art Club Join today, be an insider !
Buy
African Art from known collections.
diamonds
news is good news.
|
African
Art David
Norden |Mail|map
Sint Katelijnevest 27. B2000 ANTWERPEN-Belgium. Tel +32
3 227 35 40