Tusk with Figurative Relief 1875 - 1885

Editor: So, this carved ivory tusk, “Tusk with Figurative Relief,” was made by a Kongo artist sometime between 1875 and 1885. The detail is incredible! I’m struck by the amount of work that went into creating this object. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: This tusk forces us to confront the material conditions and social relations inherent in its production and use. It is made from ivory, a commodity deeply implicated in systems of trade and exploitation during that period. Do you see the narratives depicted? Editor: Yes, it seems to tell a story. Curator: Exactly. These relief carvings provide a visual record, perhaps documenting interactions between Kongo people and European colonizers, the impact of trade, and the power dynamics at play. The figures, their gestures, their clothes--think about the relationship between raw materials and the narratives being carved onto it. The materiality of the tusk is inseparable from the stories it tells and its place within broader economic and social systems. Do you think of the ethics of it all? Editor: It’s a difficult history. Thinking about it as more than just a piece of art makes a lot of sense. I hadn’t really thought about the actual process. Thanks for the insight! Curator: It really exemplifies the complicated intersection of art, labor, and social history.