Native Art of the Americas, Africa and Oceania is definitely
a different experience at the De Young Museum. The media used are found in
nature – wood, shells, grasses, bark, minerals – and are mostly representations
of life itself.
In fact, most of it can’t really be called “art” in the
strictest sense of the word. Most of it is what the natives used in life
itself, including in the home and for religious reasons.
The African and Oceania galleries are dark and pretty scary
for kids. In fact, I can’t remember seeing any kids wandering about at all …
maybe in the more-brightly lit galleries and in the main lobby, perhaps, but
not in the native galleries. The faces of the representations are pretty
grotesque at times.
But you know, they are what they are. I liked them; they
reminded me that Halloween is just around the corner. Here, take a look:
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| Cameroon: Chief's Headdress |
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| Ghana: Coffee in Shape of Cocoa Pod, c1970 by Kane Kwei |
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| Indonesia: Stone Seat |
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| New Guinea: Display Case |
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| New Guinea: Masks |
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| New Zealand: Canoe Prow |
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Nigeria: Shrine Figure of Standing Female
with Two Attendants and Child |
If you go there, look for me. I just might make a return
trip to De Young someday.
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