African Design

Design in Africa African Design Draft

Sculptures and Textiles

here are many kinds of African design. These include African beadwork, textiles, dcor, jewelary and its history. African art history has played a significant role in shaping the culture and history of the world. As we know Africa is the mother country of the history of mankind.

The earliest form of design in Africa can be dated back centuries ago, when shell beads fashioned into a necklace were found in caves in Africa. Another admiring fact about African design is the use of raw materials used in the creation of art objects. Rock art is one of the earliest forms of art in Africa. It is said that Africa has the oldest and greatest amount of rock art on this planet. They usually are cravings depicting animals. A piece of rock art I admire is Giraffe engraving, Niger- Bradshaw Foundation. The strokes of this carving were very subtle with a complexity of detail. The sculptures are very remarkable in such a way that they have fine details in every carving. The earliest sculptures are known as terracotta pottery. Most of them fragments of head figures from the Nok culture of Nigeria, dated from500 BC-200 AD. Looking at this sculpture, Lydenburg head, south Africa, 500 AD, Aesthetically speaking, the rings around the neck and other designs on the face seem to attract anyone because of its intricate and well executed designs along with the texture of the materials. Besides pottery, there were metal sculptures and carvings. First metals carvings were dated back to the 9th C AD, which was the tradition of the lgbo-Ukwa tribe of Nigeria.

FIG.1 GIRAFFE ENGRRAVING , NIGER BRADSHAW FOUNDATION

The major form of expression Africans use to define their selves are through their textiles. They use this for personal adornment and a powerful mediator of communication for many centuries. Through African textiles we can acquire insight into social, religious, political and economic life of many African communities.

These adorned textiles back then were made for the Ashante Empire and its Royal court and other dignitaries. Spiritual and historical significance in not only the choice of colours, dyes and type of threads used, but also in the decorative element. The symbols used and the figural compositions which are directly related to historical proverbs and events. These textiles convey messages of importance to a individual, family or society. These textiles are not always worn but used as backdrops for public ceremonies and such. Young artists who look at these complex and beautiful design of African art can gather their thoughts and think of pattern, intricate and intriguing designs in a new way.

FIG. 2 TEXTILE BLANKET,

TEXTILE BLANKET, CHIEFTAN, FULANI PEOPLE