| A Note About the Site, Objects Portrayed and Explanations Offered Please be aware that there are as many divergent perceptions and ideas about the objects portrayed on this site as there are objects and peoples in the world. In developing this site, I will make every effort to provide the most complete and up-to-date analysis and presentation of the objects and to present relevant ideas about cultural origin, encoded symbols and meanings, traditional and contemporary contexts and uses. I will aim to seek new insights and to revise those descriptions and analyses as new -- even conflicting -- plausible readings arise. A primary goal -- and the essential purpose of this site -- is to encourage and support all interested individuals to learn more about the objects, traditions, cultures and histories portrayed and/or referenced and to aid others (and myself) to develop well-supported ideas about the objects and their meanings and histories. Among the rich and diverse African traditions of object production are both ritual (so-called "authentic") objects that are or have been produced for social, community, personal, political and religious purposes within the communities from which the formal tradition has emerged as well as through related communities. Many of these forms are also drawn upon and serve as the basis for more mundane economic purposes and ends, such as objects created in commercial workshops specifically geared toward tourist and international trade markets and to generate economic opportunities within the living communities. Even traditional objects are sometimes manipulated to satisfy the commercial tastes of the broader market, making it sometimes difficult to ascertain "authenticity" as well as to understand which objects are meaningful examples to which to refer in assessing the reality from which an object arises (i.e., ritual, commercial, etc.). Since it is often unclear (And beware! Some claim always to know...), the reference to traditional forms both in commercial contexts and contemporary African art movements offers broad opportunities to appreciate and consider the forms and traditions as well as to develop personal ideas about which objects are "real" and meaningful. It is never my intent to misrepresent or mislead anyone regarding the source, meaning, value or significance of these objects. As I add verbal content to the large body of images, I will strive to cite references and to provide bibliographical data so that people can pursue and question the ideas offered. I will also encourage the consideration of contemporary African works as a necessary and important evolution of living peoples, societies and artistic traditions. There are many cultures and traditions for which information is widely accessible. In other cases, sources and documentation of representative objects are more obscure, dated, inaccurate or not available in translation. There is a tendency in identifying and contextualizing objects to default the origins and meanings of objects to the most well-known or recognized cultural group in a region. However, all works emanate from complex social, political, economic and artistic histories and cannot generally be properly identified without a consideration of related or contiguous social groups. This open stance offers a perspective that will, I hope, encourage a broad and relativized reading of objects and the undertaking of further exploration to uncover historical data, anthropological evidence, real experience and new insights in to the arts and cultures of Africa. In its early stages, the site may in some cases offer images without comment or with minimal and/or reductive titling. Continually, I will add more information and resources to help illuminate the objects and the places and realities from which I believe they may have emerged. In the meanwhile, I appreciate your patience and welcome any insights or directions you feel might enrich the presentation. Enjoy. Lee |
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