Mask c. 1950s

This mask was created by an artist from the Makonde people, and it's now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Looking at the way this mask is carved, I get a sense of a deep, physical engagement with the material. See the geometric patterns etched around the face? You can almost feel the hand of the artist moving carefully, thoughtfully across the surface. It’s like a dance between the carver and the wood, a conversation happening with each groove and line. I can imagine the artist pausing, considering, maybe even making a mistake and then figuring out how to incorporate it, turn it into something new. The addition of the hair gives it another layer of complexity. It’s not just an object; it's alive, or meant to be. It reminds me of the way certain painters build up layers of texture, almost like a sculptural act, each layer adding to the story, the feeling. Artists, whether they’re carvers or painters, are always in dialogue, aren’t they? Trying out new ways of seeing and making, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.