The vast African continent is home to a diverse array of wildlife. Among these, the snake, with its long, legless body, has long captivated human reverence. Shedding its old skin to emerge anew, the snake has been celebrated worldwide as a symbol of vitality and renewal. In Africa as well, snakes are revered as sacred beings deeply intertwined with people's daily lives and spiritual beliefs.
The "Snake Exhibition" focuses on two prominent art forms of East Africa—Makonde sculpture and Tinga Tinga painting—to explore how snakes have been depicted and their cultural significance.
Makonde sculptures, crafted from African blackwood, often feature snakes as the familiars of Shetani, mythical beings originating from Makonde folklore. These works symbolically convey the snake's mystical nature and life force.
Meanwhile, in the vividly colorful Tinga Tinga paintings, snakes are sometimes portrayed alongside shamans (spiritual healers) who are seen manipulating their mystical power. These pieces reflect the magical associations of snakes and their historical significance in the lives of the people.
Through Makonde sculptures and Tinga Tinga paintings, this exhibition offers an opportunity to explore the diverse meanings snakes hold and their profound connection to Tanzanian faith and art.
Artist Unknown
Artist Unknown
George Lilanga
M.W.Charinda
Meura
The African continent is a place where diverse ethnic cultures thrive, and the beliefs rooted in each culture have given birth to unique masks and sacred statues. This exhibition introduces the masks and sacred statues that fuse African faith and beauty, exploring their allure.
African masks are not merely decorative objects; they have played a crucial role in rituals and ceremonies, serving as a means to communicate with gods and ancestral spirits. Masks modeled after spirits and animals are believed to imbue the wearer with their power and have been used as mediums to embody people's wishes and prayers.
On the other hand, sacred statues are figures representing gods and ancestors and have been worshiped as objects of faith. The intricately carved sacred statues inspire awe in people with their powerful presence and have served as spiritual support. Among them are objects treated as "fetishes" believed to possess potent magical power.
Created from the diverse religious sentiments and unique ideas of Africa, masks and sacred statues not only fulfill roles in rituals and ceremonies but also possess artistic elements and are valued as works that pursue sculptural beauty.
Unravel the meanings and stories imbued in the diverse masks and sacred statues used by various ethnic groups in Africa, and experience the profound spiritual world of the African people and the depth of the sculptural beauty that has emerged from it.
DR Congo
Kuba people
Angola
Chokwe people
DR Congo
Songe people
Nigeria
Yoruba people
DR Congo
Luba people
