Kanaga Masks
A major theme that can be found across all the regions in the African unit is the connection between the earth and the sky. Throughout a multitude of works, through the use of symbolism, one can see the many representations of the earth and the sky. There is the Gelede mask created by the Yoruba tribe in 1950 that depicts this theme. The Gelede mask is used in the ceremony celebrating women during the Gelede festival. Above the mask you see these figures that depict two snakes and three birds. Birds can be seen as being closer to the sky and snakes as being closer to the earth. Then there is the Kanaga mask created by the Dogon people in 1950. The Kanaga mask contains two beams above it. The upper beam represents the heavens, while the lower
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Religion is seen in a variety of ways. First there are the Petro and Rada alter installations made in 1995, located at the Fowler museum. These two altars are connected to vodou and catholicism. They both contain catholic images. However, Rada represents African deities, while Petro represents new world deities. Then we have the Ethiopian Triptych icon with Virgin Mary and Christ child that was made in 1665. On the top right corner we have the crucifixion of Jesus being represented, as well as the twelve disciples on the bottom. There are even a couple of saints that are being represented at the sides, this can be seen by the halos around their head. This painting is made of three panels and the number three is a special number in Christianity. It represents the holy trinity, consisting of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. This can also be seen in Roudy Azor’s work, Mami Watas (2006). In the work there are three girls depicted, all who are sharing a mermaid tail. Since twins and the child that is born after are seen as special it connects to the belief of the holy trinity. Like I stated before the number three in Christianity is considered a special number. Gods have three different manifestations, which are the father, the son , and the holy spirit. This can be applied to the three girls in the work. The theme of religion is important to the culture because when the Europeans divided
Religion is seen in a variety of ways. First there are the Petro and Rada alter installations made in 1995, located at the Fowler museum. These two altars are connected to vodou and catholicism. They both contain catholic images. However, Rada represents African deities, while Petro represents new world deities. Then we have the Ethiopian Triptych icon with Virgin Mary and Christ child that was made in 1665. On the top right corner we have the crucifixion of Jesus being represented, as well as the twelve disciples on the bottom. There are even a couple of saints that are being represented at the sides, this can be seen by the halos around their head. This painting is made of three panels and the number three is a special number in Christianity. It represents the holy trinity, consisting of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. This can also be seen in Roudy Azor’s work, Mami Watas (2006). In the work there are three girls depicted, all who are sharing a mermaid tail. Since twins and the child that is born after are seen as special it connects to the belief of the holy trinity. Like I stated before the number three in Christianity is considered a special number. Gods have three different manifestations, which are the father, the son , and the holy spirit. This can be applied to the three girls in the work. The theme of religion is important to the culture because when the Europeans divided