Metal Art

These sculptures are the only ones that could withstand the termites in the continent.
Back in the 9th century the people of the Igbo-Ukwu tribe of Nigeria have been making these castings in tradition. Dig sites in Nigeria have revealed that they have used cast bronze regalia as works of art. This great tradition reached its peak from the Ife people from Yoruba, Nigeria who were producing very fine brass and bronze castings by the 12th century and this continued to the 15th century. 





                                              
                                                                                                   Brass figure Oni (King) of Iife 14th-15th   C                                                                                                                        


http://www.contemporary-african-art.com/african-art-history.html#sthash.FWJqEYMv.N5wUAziL.dpbs                                                                                                               

Tribal Art

In today's culture it is artists like Baselitz, Arman or Fritz Koenig who have discovered the unique qualities that assemble special pictures in today's exhibits 

Tribal art is growing in popularity. At the start of the 20th century Tribal art became arousing to the young artists and collectors. Back when "Negro art was seen as an innocent product, big artists such as Picasso and Braque were drawing great inspiration from the new qualities. "Non-European" art was greatly influenced by these great artists and is continued to be influence modern art today.







http://www.vub.ac.be/BIBLIO/nieuwenhuysen/african-art/

Influence on Westwern Art/Architecture

Us "westerners" had the idea that African Art was primitive. With this we thought that the art came from an underdeveloped and poverty fill towns. As we started the 20th century most famous artists like Picasso started to become aware of and inspired by the African Art such as this one. (Picture) 9th century bronze staff head in form of a coiled snake found in Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra State, Nigeria. Located in the National Museum Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria.





During the 50's, European architects transformed buildings into big-scale sculptures, replacing unnecessary decoration, by integrating textured murals and large bas-reliefs in walls. During the 60's, African Art influenced Brutalism, both in language and symbolism, particularly in the late Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer and Paul Rudolph. (Picture below)  The Hall of Private Audience at Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, India, an early example of the architecture


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_art
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/aima/hd_aima.htm