African art mostly consists of abstract representations of flora, fauna or reinterpretations of shapes and patterns in nature, often depicting the abundance of the surrounding nature. African design and sculptures reflect the region they come from, the geographical area being very important because depending on these coordinates, the symbols, the materials and the methods of implementation vary. The materials and their processing in the form of masks and statues vary from region to region. All African sculptures have distinctive elements, specific to the area they come from, and this is how you can differentiate between them.

 

In West Africa there are two languages of creation - one with predominant angular and elongated shapes, and one in which cylindrical shapes alternate with flat surfaces. The majority of artefacts created in this geographical area are figures with elongated bodies, angular shapes and ornaments, essential facial features, so that the mask or the statue should represent an ideal rather than a real person. In contrast to this style, there is the style of Mande-speaking people, from West Africa. Their sculptures are made mostly of wood, and are characterized by large, flat areas, while the arms and legs have a cylindrical form.

 

In Central Africa, the basic features of artefacts include heart-shaped faces, curved inwards and decorated with dots and circles. Materials used for running sculptures in this region are ranging from wood, ivory, bone, stone, to clay and metal. East Africa is not notable by sculptures. There is only one type of sculpture characteristic of this area, namely pole sculptures. These are sculptures of human figures, carved from a tree, decorated with geometric shapes. The ends of these trunks are carved separately, representing people, animals or objects of worship. This type of sculpture is strictly associated with death, whereas pillar statues are invariably placed near graves.

 

In South Africa, the sculptures are made primarily of clay. The earliest works of clay in this geographical area date back to 400-600. These sculptures present the human-animal metamorphosis (the carved figurines have both human and animal traits). Apart from clay figurines, South Africa is also known for its wooden headrests, mortuary cult objects that are buried along with their owners. The head forms are ranging from simple geometrical shapes, to animal shapes.

 

African design artists tend to favour three-dimensional artefacts at the expense of two-dimensional artefacts. Even stone or on canvas paintings were made in order to be experienced three-dimensionally. Paintings on houses were made continuously as a model for the house, forcing the viewer to make a complete tour of the house, in order to experience the creation up to the end.

 

Most artefacts are created to be used in dynamic, ceremonial contexts, requiring interpretation, rather than static contexts. When used in “played” contexts, the masks and statues involved in this game become characters, and for this reason, most societies in Africa have names for their masks. This name incorporates not only the sculpture, but also the meanings of the mask — the dance associated with the mask and the spirits who live in it. In the African way of thinking, the three cannot be differentiated.

 

 

People who love African art and African design will be happy to find out that they can buy such pieces from online stores they can find on the Internet.