On Nov. 20, 2022, The Art Institute opened a new exhibit titled “The Language of Beauty In African Art”, explaining that the role that art plays in sub-Saharan African culture is an extremely important one as “Art often plays a role in interactions between the material world of humans and the immaterial world of spirits.”
When first walking through the doors of the exhibit, you are greeted with dozens of wooden figurines as well as wooden everyday objects such as bowls and headrests. Unlike many of the other statues and figurines the Art Institute displays, a majority of the pieces in The Language of Beauty In African Art are from around the 19th century or later, compared to the countless statues throughout the museum from years B.C.E.
One of the standout sectors of the exhibit explains and shows the significance of “ugly” art within the African community. It contains various masks for sacred and secular reasons, made with rough and animalistic features to set them apart from humanity's beauty.
The “Language of Beauty in African Art” exhibit is open until Feb. 27.
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