Pygmy fabric (inset) - Lot 123

Lot n° 123
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Estimation :
100 - 200 EUR
Pygmy fabric (inset) - Lot 123
Pygmy fabric (inset) Democratic Republic of Congo 20th century H : 82 cm L : 53 cm Rectangular mbuti bark cloth, dyed with a red ground and enhanced with complex geometric motifs geometric patterns in black and white. To make this fabric, Mbuti men take long strips from the inner bark of trees such as the fig tree. These strips are soaked and then hammered with a pyramid-shaped ivory tool, softening them before they are put out to dry. Next, the women create the decorations, often inspired by traditional body-painting motifs. They bring to life a complex array of lines and shapes, creating a unique visual rhythm. In an attempt to interpret Mbuti motifs, Robert Farris Thompson explores both their deeper meaning and the aesthetic criteria that Pygmies project in their visual compositions. The irregular arrangements, textures and diversity of graphic forms evoke fragments of their natural world, echoing the environment that shapes their their daily lives.
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