Page 55 - Studio International - November 1970

Art from Africa

and Oceania

AT THE ALEXANDER MARTIN GALLERY, WHICH
RECENTLY OPENED AT 25 ST JAMES'S STREET,
LONDON SW1, WITH AN INAUGURAL EXHIBITION
ENTITLED - 'ART OF THE SOUTH SEAS'
(OCT. 20 — NOV. 10)

Shoulder mask of the goddess Nimba. Baga tribe,
Guinea. Height 38½ in.
The Baga, on the coast of the Republic of Guinea, were
a relatively small tribe, yet they produced the most
massive type of mask to be found on the African
continent—the Nimba. It is believed to represent the
goddess Nimba worshipped by the Simo Society who
held sway over the tribe. The dancer carried the bust
on his own head, his body entirely covered by an
enormous fibre cape.
(Formerly Pierre Loeb collection, Paris, where Picasso
probably saw and studied the mask.)
2
Gope board. New Guinea, Papua. Height 53 in.
These boards are individually owned and are hung
either inside or outside the house where they act as
protective spirits against sickness or other illness.
3
Dance mask. Bobo tribe from the Upper Volta.
Height 6 ft 2 in.
These masks were used in agricultural rites and
probably came from the Bobo-Fing of the Bobo-
Diulasso area. This subtribe specialized in two entirely
different forms. One type, like this example, was based
on geometric forms, and the other based on more
rounded helmet-masks.
4
New Zealand. Maori. Standing male figure. Height
29 in.
Maori free-standing sculpture is very rare and is
thought to represent gods or ancestor figures.