ĂFŘÏĆÅN ĄŔŤ

 Artist :Rakhi 

Description:khushi chandra

African art describes the historical and modern paintings, sculptures, and other cultures from native and indigenous Africans and the African continents. This art also includes the African diasporas, such as Caribbean, African American, art in South American societies inspired by African traditions.  Masquerade, metalwork, fiber art, architecture, sculpture, and dance are important dance forms of Africa. For more than a millennium, the art of such areas had formed part of Berber or Islamic art. 

The origin of African art lies along before recorded history. African rock art in the Sahara in Niger preserves 6000-year-old carvings. Along with sub-Saharan Africa, the western cultural arts, ancient Egyptian paintings, and artifacts, and indigenous southern crafts also contributed greatly to African art. Often depicting the abundance of surrounding nature, the art was often abstract interpretations of animals, plant life, or natural designs and shapes. The Nubian Kingdom of Kush in modern Sudan was in close and often hostile contact with Egypt and produced monumental sculpture mostly derivative of styles that did not lead to the north. In West Africa, the earliest known sculptures are from the NOK Culture which thrived between 1,500 BC and 500 AD in modern Nigeria, with clay figures typically with elongated bodies and angular shapes. 

Traditional art describes the most popular and studied forms of African art which are typically found in museum collections. Collection of Contemporary Art, have gone a long way to counter many of the myths and prejudices that haunt Contemporary African Art. The appointment of Nigerian Okwui Enwezezor as artistic director of Documenta 11 and his African-centred vision of art propelled the careers of countless African artists onto the international stage.  A number of vigorous popular traditions assimilate Western influences into African styles such as the elaborate fantasy coffins of Southern Ghana, made in a variety of different shapes which represent the occupations or interests of the deceased or elevate their status.