Faces, visible - invisible

Faces, visible – invisible

1- 30 April

Ancient arts of Africa, Oceania and North America

“The visible opens our eyes to the invisible.”
Anaxagoras

Over the centuries, the human face has fascinated men, imposing itself as a major medium of artistic expression. What better than a mask allows us to embody an idea or take on a new identity? From Ancient Greece to the Americas, by way of Africa, Asia and Oceania, human groups over the ages have privileged the mask as the preferred messenger between the world of men and that of spirits, between the visible and the invisible.

The mask transforms, enhancing and veiling as much as it reveals. On a form in wood, leather or metal, the sculptor redistributes the lines and planes of the face. The quest to represent the intangible, the elusive, constitutes an infinite source of artistic invention. The face is deconstructed, its features exaggerated. The creations that result from this come to life during initiation rites, social or religious masked ceremonies.

This exhibition highlights the richness of styles and the power of evocation of these faces from the world over. From the raw poetry of Papua New Guinea art to the Cubism of the masks of the Congo basin, the Surrealist mystery of the works of New Ireland, and the shamanic dreams embodied in the Eskimo arts of Far North, the mask reigns as master.

In a drawing from 1949, Max Ernst proclaimed, “Be careful: one mask may mask (or unmask) another.”

May you enjoy discovering all those here!

Discover our new e-catalog

Lwalwa Mfondo mask Democratic Republic of The Congo Early 20th century Ex collection Bernard Cosyns, Antwerp Ex Galerie Gregory Verdonck, Brussels Ex collection Jo de Buck, Brussels

Malagan mask New Ireland 19th century Collected by Fregat Captain Rudolph Brosch in 1894 during the Austrian Imperial Expedition in the South Seas (1893-1895) Thence by descent in the Brosch family

Iagalagana Mumuye figure Nigeria Early 20th century Ex collection Galerie Jacques Kerchache, Paris Ex Gros & Delettrez, Paris, 18 Nov 2003, lot 235 Ex collection Galerie Flak circa 2006 Ex private collection, France Published: Mumuye, François Neyt, 2006 (cover & plate 19)

Gope spirit board Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea Early 20th century Ex collection Aaron Furman, New York Ex private collection, acquired from the above in the 1960s

Kavat mask for night dances Uramot- Baining people New Britain Mid 20th century Ex private collection, UK

Baining Fire Dance Firedancer wearing a ceremonial mask, Baining people, Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. March 2008 Photograph: Taro Taylor

Kifwebe Songye mask Kalebwe , Democratic Republic of the Congo Early 20th century Ex private collection in the Netherlands since the 1960s By descent in the family (third generation) Ex Sotheby’s Paris

« C’est pharamineux, affolant d’expression »

André Derain, 1907

Yupik shaman's dual mask Man-Seal inua spirit St. Michael, Alaska Late 19th century Collected in Anvik, Alaska Ex collection Heye Foundation, Museum of the American Indian, inventory # 5/941 Sold in 1944 to Julius Carlebach (1909-1964) Ex Carlebach Gallery, New York Ex collection Jeffrey R. Myers, New York Ex collection Pinchas Mendelson, New York, acquired from the above in 2003 By descent

False Face mask Iroquois people Northeast, USA Early 20th century Ex private collection, Albuquerque, USA

Yam fertility figure “Kwaga” (according to Douglas Newton’s notes) Nukuma people Washkuk Hills, Upper Sepik, Papua New Guinea Early 20th century Field-collected by Douglas Newton, 1973 Ex collection Douglas Newton (1920-2001), New York, inv. # “Nu 15” Ex collection John & Marcia Friede, Jolika, acquired from the above 2002 Ex collection Marc Assayag, Montreal Ex private collection, New York

Kota Obamba Figure Mbulu-Ngulu reliquary figure Gabon Early 20th century or earlier Ex private collection, acquired in the 1950s By descent Ex Christie’s Paris, Arts d’Afrique et d’Océanie, June 11th 2012 Ex collection Daniel Hourdé, Paris Ex Galerie Ratton, Paris Ex private collection, Paris acquired from the above in 2017 Publication / Exhibition: “Gabon”, Galerie Philippe Ratton, June-Sept. 2017 p. 40-41

Lele mask Democratic Republic of the Congo Early 20th century Ex collection Hendrik Elias (1925-2014) By descent in the family Ex collection Jo de Buck, Brussels

Ancestor Figure North Coast, Aitape region, East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea Early 20th century Acquired in the 1930s Ex Sotheby’s New York, 2001 Ex collection Pierre Mondoloni, France Published: Sepik: Hooks, Figures & Masks, 2018

Poos’hum Katsina – Seed Kachina doll Hopi, Arizona Circa 1890 Ex private collection, USA

Lega Idimu or Lukwakongo mask Democratic Republic of the Congo Early 20th century Ex collection Michel Boulanger, Liege Ex collection Jo de Buck, Brussels Ex private collection, Seattle

Exceptional large carved head Old Bering Sea III culture Archaic Eskimo, Alaska 300 A.D. – 500 A.D. Ex collection Harry Klamer, Toronto Ex collection Perry Lewis, Connecticut Published: Ancient Eskimo Ivories of the Bering Strait, Wardwell figure 119

Exhibitions

Faces, visible – invisible

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