Term 1 Project: Research – Tribal Masks & Cave Painting

Prior to creating my abstract skulls, I started looking at tribal masks and the simplistic representation of the human face. Tribal masks were not just wall decorations, but served a practical purpose with symbolic meaning during rituals and ceremonies.

Tribal masks are often used decoratively these days; being hung on the wall just to look at, displayed in a white gallery space or museum. This method of displaying such items completely devoids the masks of their rich cultural qualities and spiritual quality.

African Masks
African Masks II

I have also looked at early human cave painting to see the manner in which these primitive people portrayed other humans and animals. As early humans, they would most probably have looked for shapes and meanings in natural objects, and also the simplest way of conveying and communicating.

Cave Painting
Cave Painting II

I have been trying to take influence from this by searching for shapes within the skull so as to portray it in a more simple fashion using straight angular lines which, to me, portray aggression, and animal/primal instict.

I started looking at these masks as they related well to the early-human skull and primal quality I was attempting to find in my work. They will help with improving my ideas for abstract pieces.