African tribal masks
African inspired tribal masks are a big part of both SBTRKT's and Hidden Place's identity as an artist. Hidden Place has stated that Aztec and South American art is one of the influences of the designs for their masks but the main influence and over all reference in appearance would definitely be traditional African tribal masks.
In African tribal culture, masks were and still are used for special rituals and ceremonies and they would represent the spirits of ancestors or animals. Masks that would represent dead ancestors would be shaped like a human skull.
They would usually be made from wood, copper, fabric, pottery, or bronze with details such as animal teeth, hair, bones, straw, feathers or even egg shells.
In African culture, masks were only used for special ceremonies such as weddings, funerals and initiation rites of passage and would usually be worn be dancers would would then become the 'bearers' of the spirit of the mask, depending on what the mask represented.
Some masks be designed to show emotions or personalities, such as 'calmness' with the eyes half shut or 'wisdom', which would be represented with a large forehead and wide eyes (shown in the masks below).
Mask makers are ranked very highly in African tribes because they are believed to be in contact with a spirit world, channeling the faces of dead relatives or ancient beings through the designs of the masks they make.
African inspired tribal masks are a big part of both SBTRKT's and Hidden Place's identity as an artist. Hidden Place has stated that Aztec and South American art is one of the influences of the designs for their masks but the main influence and over all reference in appearance would definitely be traditional African tribal masks.
In African tribal culture, masks were and still are used for special rituals and ceremonies and they would represent the spirits of ancestors or animals. Masks that would represent dead ancestors would be shaped like a human skull.
They would usually be made from wood, copper, fabric, pottery, or bronze with details such as animal teeth, hair, bones, straw, feathers or even egg shells.
In African culture, masks were only used for special ceremonies such as weddings, funerals and initiation rites of passage and would usually be worn be dancers would would then become the 'bearers' of the spirit of the mask, depending on what the mask represented.
Some masks be designed to show emotions or personalities, such as 'calmness' with the eyes half shut or 'wisdom', which would be represented with a large forehead and wide eyes (shown in the masks below).
Mask makers are ranked very highly in African tribes because they are believed to be in contact with a spirit world, channeling the faces of dead relatives or ancient beings through the designs of the masks they make.
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