The Beauty and Magic Behind African Culture非洲文化背后的美与魅

Africa is known for its vast natural resources and beautiful landscapes， but it is also home to a rich culture of art.

非洲以其大量的自然资源和美丽景色闻名，但它也是丰富的艺术文化的发祥地。

Traditionally， healing， pleasure， protection， and transformation have all been central themes in the work of African artists. The British Royal Military’s 1897 seizure of an ivory carving and a bronze shell was the first significant piece of African art to have a lasting impact on Europe.

传统上，疗愈、愉悦、保护和转变都是非洲艺术家作品的中心主题。英国皇家军队1897年掠取的象牙雕刻品和铜牌匾是首次对欧洲产生持久影响的重要非洲艺术品。

African art is a vast and varied category that encompasses traditional masks， sculptures， textiles， and beadwork from across the African continent. While there is no one definition of African art， there are some common themes that run throughout this genre.

非洲艺术是一个庞大丰富的类别，包括非洲大陆各地的传统面具、雕塑、纺织品和珠饰。虽然非洲艺术没有一个确定的定义，但这类艺术有一些共通的主题。

The different styles of African art

非洲艺术的不同风格

One of the most distinguishing features of African art is its use of color. Bright colors are often used to express the vitality and joy of life， while dark colors can convey sadness or anger. Texture is also an important element of African art， with artists often using intricate patterns and designs to create a sense of movement and dynamism.

非洲艺术最显著的特征之一是其对色彩的运用。明亮的色彩常被用于表现生命的活力和喜悦，而深色则可以传达悲伤或愤怒。纹理结构也是非洲艺术的重要元素，艺术家经常使用复杂的图案和设计来创造动感与活力。

African artists use symbols to communicate meaning

非洲艺术家使用符号来传达意义

Many African artists use symbols to communicate meaning. For example， the Sankofa symbol represents the importance of learning from the past in order to build a better future. The Adinkra symbols of Ghana represent concepts or aphorisms. These symbols are often carved into stoneware pottery or printed on cloth. Adinkra symbols are used in cloth and bead work to represent concepts， beliefs， or values that the wearer wishes to express. Each symbol has a specific meaning that is understood by the people of Ghana.

许多非洲艺术家使用符号来传达意义。例如，圣伽法（Sankofa）符号代表向过去学习以建设更美好未来的重要性。加纳的阿丁克拉（Adinkra）符号则代表概念或格言。这些符号常被雕刻在粗陶器上或印在布料上。阿丁克拉符号被用于布料和珠饰，以代表穿戴者希望表达的概念、信仰或价值。每个符号都有为加纳人民所理解的特定含义。

African art & West African pop art

非洲艺术与西非通俗艺术

One of the most popular genres of African art is West African pop art， which emerged in the 1960s as a way for artists to comment on social issues such as colonialism and war. For example， Nigerian artist Victor Uwaifo created “Akanji Alhaji”， a portrait of an elderly man made out of oranges that playfully comments on the relationship between African artifacts and Western culture.

非洲最受欢迎的艺术流派之一是西非通俗艺术，出现于20世纪60年代，是艺术家对殖民主义和战争等社会议题发表评论的一种方式。例如，尼日利亚艺术家维克多·乌维福创作了《阿坎吉·阿尔哈吉》，这是一幅用橙子制作的老人肖像，戏谑地评论了非洲工艺品与西方文化之间的关系。

African art & music

非洲艺术与音乐

African artists often incorporate instruments into their work. In fact， music represents the importance of creativity and expression within African cultures. For example， many traditional masks from Mali include musical horns called “jeli”. These instruments are said to represent the human voice and therefore call upon ancestral spirits for protection during rituals. The Senufo people in Burkina Faso use drums that form part of a larger artwork. Each drum tells a story through symbols that express themes such as marriage or procreation， while also being used in ritual contexts during religious ceremonies.

非洲艺术家常常将乐器融入他们的作品中。事实上，音乐代表着非洲文化中创造力和表达的重要性。例如，马里的许多传统面具上都含有一种被称为“日里”（jeli）的音乐号角。据说这些乐器代表着人类的声音，因此可以在仪式中求得祖先的灵魂保佑。布基纳法索的塞努福人用鼓来构成大型艺术作品中的一部分。每面鼓用表达婚姻或生育等主题的符号讲述一个故事，也被用于宗教典礼中举办仪式的场合。

In modern days， traditional African instruments have been adapted for use by Western musicians， making their way into genres such as jazz and rock. For example， the talking drum used in West African music is featured prominently on Paul Simon’s album Graceland.

在现代，非洲传统乐器被西方音乐家改造使用，进入爵士和摇滚等音乐流派。例如，西非音乐中使用的讯息鼓是保罗·西蒙的专辑《恩赐之地》的显著特色。

Characteristics of art from Africa

非洲艺术的特色

· Formal innovation—the African artist’s concern with newness and creative thinking.

· 形式创新——非洲艺术家对新颖性和创造性思维的关注。

· Visual abstract concept and conventionalization.

· 视觉化的抽象概念和传统运用。

· A graphical mixture of steady rhythm and asymmetry.

· 稳定节奏和非对称性在绘画中的混合。

· The prerogatives of sculpture; the conversion and ornament of the human.

· 雕塑的特权地位；人的转变和装饰。

· A presence of multiple interpretations.

· 多重解读的存在。

Vibrancy and expressiveness

活力和表现力

One of the main characteristics of African art is its vibrancy. This is evident in the use of bright colors and patterns in African textiles， masks， and sculptures. Another characteristic is the expressiveness of African art. This is often conveyed through the facial features of masks and the body language of sculptures.

非洲艺术的主要特征之一是其活力。这一点明显体现于非洲纺织品、面具和雕塑对鲜明色彩及图案的使用中。非洲艺术的另一个特征是其表现力。这常常通过面具的面部特征和雕塑的肢体语言来传达。

Little distinction between art and utility

艺术与实用之间几无差别

Another main characteristic of African art is the lack of distinction between art and utility. For example， African masks were used in ceremonies to honor the dead or as protection against evil spirits. They might also be used in initiation rites that would transform an adolescent into a warrior or a man. To understand why African artists produced objects for use rather than for pure aesthetic value， one must first look at the history of Africa itself.