Up until the early twentieth century, the Kweni people of the Ivory Coast lived in relative safety and seclusion from external forces, surrounded by dense forests and perilous savannah. Following sustained, violent attacks by an invading France between 1906 and 1912, the Kweni were successfully colonised. They were made to take on the name Guro, by which they were known to their tribal neighbours, the Baule, possible collaborators with France.
The Guro nation persists to this day, and along with their Baule and Yaure neighbours to the west, the Malinke to the north and the Bete and Wé to the south, are famous for being some of the most prodigious artisans on the African continent.
Guro art, which is characteristically colourful and elegant, is dominated by masks, typically with elongated faces, concave profiles and slanted eyes. The Western Guro produce narrow masks with exaggerated features and marked scarification, thought to have apotropaic (evil-dispelling) functions, whereas those of the north and south are influenced by other tribes, often consisting of animal chimaeras with human physiognomy, that have more ceremonial functions.
Regular visitors may remember the recent photograph featuring the carved
bust of a man; that little chap sits extravagantly atop a mahogany-coloured Guro mask that I found in New Orleans way-back-when, and it is the singular detail in the face of that mask that you see here.
Comments on: guro
So dry, today; but the rich surface detail is gorgeous :)
Posted by
matt at December 20, 2005 09:34 AM
I like the rich deep colours of the mask. I'm glad you finally decided to tell us what that previous picture was .. I thought you'd forgotten :)
Posted by
owen at December 20, 2005 12:54 PM
Excellent detail. It really looks like the eye of Sauron or something.
Posted by
CurlyToes at December 20, 2005 05:56 PM
Ahh, you just framed this perfectly!
Posted by
Heidi at December 20, 2005 10:03 PM
wonderful detail and both subtle and bold colors. Beautiful!
Posted by
Mike at December 27, 2005 07:12 PM
There is a kind of similar looking guy hanging over my front door. He is supposed to protect us from any harm that may try to enter. Excellent close crop. Adds even more to the feeling of the description you included.
Posted by
ROB at December 29, 2005 05:51 AM
very nice colors throughout, and the composition works well too.
Posted by
pierre at December 30, 2005 09:59 AM
awesome texture
Posted by
gentlesea.com at December 31, 2005 05:05 PM
Hope all is well with you Alastair, and I hope the new year resolution is not to not post pictures.
Posted by
joe_ob at January 23, 2006 11:27 PM
Wow!
Little bit scary...
Posted by
tetsu at March 15, 2006 05:42 PM
excellent colors..all the pictures here are amazing!
Posted by
Mind Curry at April 27, 2006 10:52 AM
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