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Portfolios%20%3D%20%221147%22%20and%20Sort_Artist%20%3D%20%22Bamana%20artist%22
Sculpture
Crest Mask: Male Antelope (Chi Wara)
Bamana artist, (active )
Bamana artist
Mali
Primary
40 9/16 x 2 15/16 x 13 9/16 in. (103 x 7.5 x 34.5 cm)
.
.
.
overall
overall
Wood
Wood
Bamana; made in Mali
0
0
African art, antelopes, Bamana, chi wara, sculpture
Sculpture
In many cultures, gods and spirits take the form of animals. Selected for their physical or behavioral traits, features of different animals are combined to create mythical creatures whose symbolic powers are greater than those of ordinary beasts. This antelope crest mask combines the curved horns of an antelope, the curious snout and scales of a pangolin (a kind of anteater) and the squat body of an aardvark—all animals that dig up the earth. This makes the mask a fitting representations of Chi Wara, the supernatural being the Bamana believe taught humans to farm. Chi wara masks were worn in male/female pairs during dance performances in the fields that taught and encouraged good farming. Today, because of conversion to Islam and a variety of social changes due to westernization, the Chi Wara masquerade is now performed for entertainment and cultural pride.
The small pieces of red cloth attached to the snout of this male Chi Wara may have originated in the woolen bandages imported by the French during the First World War. In Bamana culture, red is the color of danger and is often restricted to men of certain status.
[Gallery label text, 2009]
1969.107
item
Memorial Art Gallery
11/28/2000
69.107SL2
slide
worn w fiber costume
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
69.107SL1
slide
full
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
negative
full
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
glossy
full
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
glossy
full
8 x 10
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
negative
full
4 x 5
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
69.107DI1
digital image
full
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/69.107_A2.jpg
69.107DI2
digital image
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/69.107_A1.jpg
69.107DI#3
digital image
Three-quarter
1/13/2009
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/69.107_A3.jpg
69.107DI#4
digital image
Side
1/13/2009
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/69.107_A4.jpg
69.107DI#5
digital image
Front
1/13/2009
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/69.107_A5.jpg
69.107DI#6
digital image
1/13/2009
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/69.107_A6.jpg
69.107TR1
transparency
Front
4 x 5
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
Sculpture
Crest Mask: Female Antelope (Chi Wara)
Bamana artist, (active )
Bamana artist
Mali
Primary
30 1/2 x 7 5/8 x 8 in. (77.5 x 19.4 x 20.3 cm)
.
.
.
Wood
Wood
Bamana; made in Mali
0
0
African art, antelopes, Bamana, chi wara, sculpture
Sculpture
In many cultures, gods and spirits take the form of animals. Selected for their physical or behavioral traits, features of different animals are combined to create mythical creatures whose symbolic powers are greater than those of ordinary beasts. This antelope crest mask combines the curved horns of an antelope, the curious snout and scales of a pangolin (a kind of anteater) and the squat body of an aardvark—all animals that dig up the earth. This makes them fitting representations of Chi Wara, the supernatural being the Bamana believe taught humans to farm. The masks were worn in male/female pairs during dance performances in the fields that taught and encouraged good farming. Today, because of conversion to Islam and a variety of social changes due to westernization, the Chi Wara masquerade is now performed for entertainment and cultural pride.
[Gallery label text, 2009]
1993.14
item
Memorial Art Gallery
9/8/1999
93.14SL1
slide
3/4 view
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
glossy
8 x 10
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
negative
2 x 3
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif
93.14DI1
digital image
3/4 view
2 x 2
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/93.14_A1.jpg
93.14DI#2
digital image
Three-quarter
1/13/2009
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/93.14_A2.jpg
93.14DI#3
digital image
side
1/13/2009
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/93.14_A3.jpg
93.14DI#4
digital image
Front
1/13/2009
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/93.14_A4.jpg
93.14DI#5
digital image
1/13/2009
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Media/images/93.14_A5.jpg
93.14TR1
transparency
Front
4 x 5
00/00/00
http://127.0.0.1:5000/Graphics/blank.gif