240206 SE African Sculpture - From powerful media to art (P4) (2013S)

With their transferral to Europe into ethnographic or art museums and collections African sculptures have changed their purpose and value. In their original setting they might have been used as power or divination figures for ritual purposes, as altar figures representing deities or ancestors, as portraits of renowned leaders or kings, as spiritual representations or mnemonic devices. In the museum or gallery surrounding they are now classified according to aesthetic features or ethnic provenance and are considered as works of art.
Based on a selection of objects from the collection of the Museum für Völkerkunde the students will study the original function and art historical value of African sculptures. The participants will learn about the stylistic variety of African figurative carvings and gain insight into the complexity of their sociocultural contexts. At the same time an overview over the actual research and discourse in the study of African sculpture will be provided.