171 and 172 Africa PDF

Cooper Manuel, Rian Olsen, Ella Interian, Brody Interain, Aidan Tacinelli, Ava Ford, Kayla Kinsey, Sienna Kingston, & Kaitlyn McGrath APAH Period 1  WORK 171 Ndop (portrait figure) of King Mishe miShyaang maMbul Kuba peoples, Democratic republic of the Congo, 1760-1780,...

Cooper Manuel, Rian Olsen, Ella Interian, Brody Interain, Aidan Tacinelli, Ava Ford, Kayla Kinsey, Sienna Kingston, & Kaitlyn McGrath APAH Period 1  WORK 171 Ndop (portrait figure) of King Mishe miShyaang maMbul Kuba peoples, Democratic republic of the Congo, 1760-1780, wood, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York  F.F.C.S.I. Form- Characteristics of a ndop: Cross-legged pose Sits on a base Epicene body Face seems uninvolved, above mortal affairs A peace knife in his left hand Royal regalia: bracelets, arm bands, belts, headdress Function- Ndop sculptures are commemorative portraits of Kuba rulers, presented in an ideal state. Not an actual representation of a deceased king but of his spirit Made after the death of the King Style- Ndop sculptures are commemorative of Kuba rulers Context- Each King is commemorated by symbols on the base of the figure; this king has a sword in his left hand in a non aggressive pose, handle facing out One of the earliest existing African wood sculptures; oldest ndop in existence Rubbed with oil to protect it from insects Acted as a surrogate for King in his absence Kept in the Kings shrine with other works called a set of “royal charm” Influences/Ideas- Houdon, George Washington Lindauer, Tamati Waka Nene Code of Hammurabi  UTILITARIAN – Royal regalia: bracelets, U.R.P.H.E.I.A. arm bands, headdress RELIGIOUS- depicts deceased Kuba rulers spirits POLITICAL- Acted as a surrogate for the King in his absence HISTORICAL- Since information and history was transferred orally in Africa, sculptural traditions like the ndop can help us gain insight into information about historical individuals and their cultural ideals. ECONOMIC- Similar to art traditions in other world cultures, the apprentices imitated or copied early pieces from their teachers until they were skilled enough to develop their own designs. Although the names of individual artists were not written down—and are not known to us today—artists were sought after by name and were important to the Kuba royal court and beyond. INFORMATION- The ndop sculptures serve as important markers of cultural ideals. They also reveal a chronological lineage through their visual signifiers. AESTHETICS- used to commemorate the Kuba culture and pass down stories  Credit Line: WORK Name/Title of work- Power figure (Nkisi n’kindi) 172 Artist/Architect- Kongo peoples Date/Period- late 19th century Original Location- Democratic Republic of The Congo Museum- Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Patron- Unknown Material/Technique (media)- wood and metal https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art- history/africa-apah/central-africa-apah/a/nkisi-nkondi  F.F.C.S.I. Form Alert pose Rigid frontality Arms akimbo, in an aggressive stance Wears a headdress worn by chiefs or priests Nails are pounded into the figure Function Has a role as a witness and enforcer of community affairs, and cautions people on the consequences of actions contrary to community norms Medical properties are inserted into the body cavity, thought to be a person’s life or soul Style Sacred medicines and divine protection are central to the belief of the Kongo peoples Nkisi nkondi figures are highly recognizable through an accumulation of pegs, blades, nails, or other sharp objects inserted into its surface Context Spirits are embedded into in the images, nails and blades are often inserted into the work or removed from it in order to prod the image into action ○ Spirits can be called upon to bless or harm others, cause earth or give life Influences/Ideas The Kongo believe that the great god, Ne Kongo, brought the first sacred medicine ( nkisi) down from heaven in an earthenware vessel set upon three stones or termite mounds.  U.R.P.H.E.I.A. UTILITARIAN- A vessel for medicinal herbs/other healing entities RELIGIOUS- Worn by priests, spirits embedded in image to be called upon to cause harm/life/death POLITICAL- Witness/enforcer of the political norms of society HISTORICAL- Has survived over the centuries and migrated to the Americas and the Caribbean via Afro-Atlantic religious practices such as voodoo dolls ECONOMIC- Not made for financial gain but the strength/betterment of community INFORMATION- Cautions people of consequences and community norms AESTHETICS- Nails/other sharp objects are visual representation of harms/effects caused by spirits and glass represents seeing potential enemies THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!