This collection has been gathered from galleries in Europe, North America, Australia as well as on-location in Africa. It is held in Sydney Australia.
Living so far from the African continent - and so close to the tribal art of New Guinea, South East Asia and Polynesia - shared information and experience is hard to come by. It is why I am always interested in other peoples opinions (although it does not mean I automatically take those opinions as 'gospel'). Whether the information is right or wrong it indirectly helps to enlarge, deepen or enrich my response to ritual masks. And may assist in discovering something that otherwise may have escaped my attention.
This collection is not intended to represent or impose any kind of collecting point of view. I have simply taken an intuitive approach to objects, referencing the mask by my own emotional reaction, not just driven by the aesthetic but also by the function and meaning.
Removed from their Africa, these masks are fragments both literally and metaphorically. They were once given the power to cure, curse, instruct, judge or protect both individuals and whole communities. I hope the photographs and the words capture this spirit.
Some galleries that pieces in this collection have come from are:
Marc Assayeg and Tookalook Native Arts at www.tookalook.com
Candice Ranelli and Ralph Proctor Gallery at www.introspecinc.com
Ann Porteus and the Sidewalk Tribal Gallery at www.sidewalktribal.com
Fernandez Leventhal Gallery at www.fernandezleventhal.com
Two collections that I have found valuable as visual references are:
www.randafricanart.com
www.hamillgallery.com
This collection has not been placed on the web because I think it is 'important', nor is it for sale. It is on the web to assist others with visual and textual references to masks. I hope you enjoy it.
Regards Andrew Turley