Art 1301 （3 assignments need separate）

First Name | Last Name

ID: 1234567

Art 1301- Art Appreciation

Mr. Jason Hose

Art Analysis

Richland College

The Roots

Kuba People Background

The Kuba people are a magnificent piece of African culture. During the seventeenth and twentieth century got the time to really prosper as a community. They were one of the only few to escape the black holocaust which has lead us to the great stories the elders of his great community can tell. To start from the beginning, it was brought to the attention that they were coming from Egypt. The Kuba people were led by the Bushongos tribe but they were comprised of a lot of other tribes like cNgeendes, Ngongos, and Bieengs. They were able to survive the Europeans trying to put them in the Arab slave trade. To believe it or not they were led by the ruling of democracy. The people were allowed to over throw the king if need be even going to lengths as to ask the king to committee suicide. They also left behind exquisite art for us to find. We later found spoons, decorated huts, and cups that are perfectly covered in beautiful fruit juices and decorated perfectly. Sadly, they were eliminated during the twentieth century, but they left behind priceless artifact.

Analysis

This mask was not used like other mask in African history to scare people. This mask was used to show royalty and beauty. Looking at the mase starting from the top you see a bright red feather that’s hanging over the face mask by a tube that engraved with beautiful white and black beads. That ball of fur is made of red Gray parrot feathers that were only used for royalty. Now looking at the face it beaded symmetrically. The face almost resembles a slight smile with the ivory beads and cowrie shells leading the detail of the mask. Like it said in the description the aesthetic of the mask will put you in the mind of an elephant. The mask has a lot of diagonal strong lines that makes the mask look more dramatic. Then down to the bottom there is rough wool that is made of goat hairs.

Interpretation

This mask was a symbol of respect and royalty. Most of the times mask were used to scare people or used in rituals. But this mask was made to demonstrate the origins of the Bushoong dynasty. They used the mask in a ritual that would tell the story of how out of the tribes the Bushoon people were meant to lead the Kuba people. The first man to rule the kuba people was a man named Woot. They would use this mask in masquerade, ceremonies, and royal funerals. He had a sister who was also his wife, and he had a brother name Bwoom which was also his rival. So, when they would do these reenactments it would always be a fight between Woot and Weel the two brothers. This tradition lasted centuries and was kept alive due to them being one of the only people to survive the black holocaust.

Judgement

I really enjoyed looking into this piece of art. I understood where the mask came from and I like that it was a mask that showed the great dynasty that thrived when no other colonies could. I personally found the mask. To be quite beautiful, it was engraved in beautiful material that you could see the detail in. What drew my attention in the museum was the red ball of feathers that I know is parrot feathers. The aesthetic of the mask just gives off a a great sense of power that I enjoyed.

Citations

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Kuba.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 11 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/topic/Kuba-people.

“The Kuba Kingdom.” Lisapo Ya Kama, 7 Mar. 2018, en.lisapoyakama.org/the-kuba-kingdom/.