Introduction

A close link between art and religion exists in African cultures as it does in most societies, and a multitude of objects ranging from masks to statues are used to express ideas about the divine and to provide people with an earthly object through which they can relate to the powerful forces that shape this world. Unlike Western religious art, however, most African devotional objects are not static works designed for monumental display. These powerful items are lively and secretive and appear in public only on special occasions. People see religious regalia such as masks and dance staves during masquerades, and other objects like reliquary and power figures are often extremely private objects that rarely leave the shrines in which they are placed.

African religious traditions combine performance, art, and worship to create a powerful spiritual experience that involves the entire community. Unlike in most Western religions, extremely lively dances and music are used to convey important ideas and values to people. Pieces, like those displayed in this exhibit, have great symbolic significance, and when these objects are used in their respective societies, they place people in contact with powerful forces and beings that are otherwise invisible and elusive.

In addition, the African aesthetic is often quite different from that of the west, and this fact must be kept in mind when viewing African works. This art is rarely naturalistic because artists emphasize certain characteristics to convey important social and religious ideas and values. Also, one must keep in mind that most African art is not created to be viewed and contemplated in a static museum setting, but rather, it is designed to be viewed while in motion and in its own cultural context.

Eric L. Littlepage, Curator