Art based on meaning
Latin american art and artists have a lot of input in Western art today. Whereby once the art form native america, latin america and Africa was seen as “primitive”with its totem poles and african masks it is now welcomed with open arms together with art of western artists around the world.
It would be surprising to many to learn that in 1890 there was a world exhibition of so called “primitive”art as the scientists and artists of the day termed. Least it was for me when I learnt about it recently in an art history course. They wern’t quite as PC (Politically Correct) as they are today it seems, or maybe politics then were a little different.
Either way I find Latin American as well as other non western art forms very refreshing. A lot of Latin american art has meanings in and of itself. it is not always art for arts sake. Many objects looked at as art today were ritual objects used in ceremonies, you can even get some intricate hand made goods, and definately the best price for gold jewellery. Even the art itself was not always on cavas or paper but was a group offering.
Communities would come together to beutify buidings, walls and housing painting exotic murals. The murals themselves depicted objects of intiricate meanings such as goddesses, fertility rights and even voodoo. There were many beliefs that were linked to the art that created. Items such as masks and totem poles weren’t there just to look pretty.
Masks were painted in all manner of colours utilizing many type of natural materials such as wood, bone, paint and clay. These were then used in tribal ceremonies and rituals were performed with them whilst the participants danced about. Mayber this is where the eighteenth century idea of masks and ballroom dancing of the courts of rich came about from. This could have been picked up from the many countries the rich visited for leisure and business.
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