Male figure, late 20th - early 21st century
Origin Uganda, carved and pigmented African mahogany.
(mm.380x210x70)
The style is inspired by the traditions of the Congolese basin, particularly the Songye and Luba tribes.
The geometric and chromatic decorations on the face refer to a symbolic language linked to protection and belonging. These signs do not have a univocal and codified meaning: they were fluid codes, readable only by the initiated, and varied from clan to clan.
- Circle: linked to the sun, the moon or the eyes of the ancestors.
This work was purchased in Uganda, but it is the result of strong cultural interactions with neighboring Congo: during times of conflict, many Congolese refugees brought with them their knowledge and artistic practices, and over time, the traditions have intertwined. The result is a craft that preserves the Congolese aesthetic, filtered through contemporary folk art.
Unique specimen, perfect preservation.