The Chokwe, the most artistically prolific ethnic group in Angola, command a rich visual world, as this exhibition catalogue illustrates using artworks from selected private and museum collections in the United States, Europe, Canada and South America. One hundred and fifty pieces of work of the Chokwe people are displayed as well as works from neighbouring groups resident in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia - the Lwena, Ovimbundu, Holo or Lunda. It includes masks, chief's and ancestral figures, thrones, scepters, divination tools and ceramic figures and explores male and female initiation and the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next through symbolic art forms. This book brings forth concepts of history, morals, religion and politics in a dramatic and educational context.
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Magnificently loaded with elegant plates of ceremonial and tribal objects from the Chokwe tribe and others in Angola, this exhibition catalog accompanies a show originating at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama; editor Jord n, who spent more than two years with the Chokwe and related tribes, is the museum's curator. The objects are mostly carved wood, but their polished, stylized vision of people and nature and the variety and especially the depth of feeling in masks raise them far above craft. The pieces are shown alone, as in a museum exhibit, with art stressed more than anthropology. To remedy this, seven scholarly articles by authorities on the Chokwe appear throughout, along with photos of native life. While this puts into context objects like whistles, thrones, and the intriguing divination baskets full of tiny magical charms, it has a somewhat choppy effect. One of a series of books on African art by Prestel (e.g., African Art from the Han Corey Collection, LJ 6/15/98 ), this covers a seldom-visited area rich in heritage. For larger art-oriented and college libraries.AGay W. Neale, Southside Virginia Community Coll. Lib., Alberta
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Book about the Chokwe Artists of Angola!,
By sherri j. thorne (brooklyn, new york United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Chokwe!: Art and Initiation Among Chokwe and Related Peoples (Paperback)
Chokwe! Art and Initian Among Chokwe and Related Peoples, is a stunning accomplishment! This exhibition catalogue shows some of the finest works of Angolan art by the Chokwe people. Significant, because much of what is in this book has been selected from not only museum collections but from top notch private ones as well. the one hundred fifty pieces selected include Royal Art (figures of chiefs) origins that can be traced back to the Luna migrations of the 16th century, Weapons, Snuff mortars, Whistles with bird figures and figurative heads, Masks of female ancestors, Divination baskets, Headrests and other magnificant pieces. Prestel has created a lavishly illustrated volume with excellent historical, religious and cultural insights. This book is a must for anyone who loves African Art!
4.0 out of 5 stars
The best choice if you want to know something about Chokwe, Holo, Lwena and Lunda,
This review is from: Chokwe!: Art and Initiation Among Chokwe and Related Peoples (Paperback)
This is the most complete book which I found about Chokwe tribe until now. The book concerns the Chokwe customs not only in Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, but also in Zambia. Then - many precious pages are dedicated to the Holo, Lwena, Lunda, Mbagani and Ovimbudu tribes too, which little is known and it's very difficult to find informations about. 154 colour and b/w plates include masks, royal thrones, combs, headrests, pipes, stools, statuettes, whistles, divination baskets, scepters, ceramic figures, axes, etc, most of them appearing for the first time on these pages. Other very interesting images of people, dances and rites are included. I'm giving 4/5 just because of some of the plate pictures are in black and white, even if this is a 5/5 very recommended book. A hundred times better than "Chokwe - Visions of Africa Series" by Boris Wastiau.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
