Chefs-d'œuvre d'Afrique

As introductions to Central and West African art go, you could do much worse than this exhibit at the Musée Dapper, which sketches a broad social history of the aesthetic principles and customs behind each the specially chosen chefs-d’oeuvre. Every statue, jewel, icon, mask and weapon is closely tied to specific set of local practises, skills and beliefs, which the curators’ documentation helpfully explains, and the formal variety of the objects on display here is clear testament to the diversity and vibrancy of craft on the African continent.

TRANSLATION: HUW OLIVER