Mask c. 20th century

This wooden mask, made by the Wobe or Bete people, has this great dark sheen, like it has been handled and loved. Look at the way the wood grain itself has become part of the artwork! I can imagine the artist, starting with this block of wood, and slowly, thoughtfully, carving out the form. The shapes around the eyes and mouth, and the metal studs, feel really considered. I love imagining the artist finding the perfect materials for the embellishments, carefully placing each one. It reminds me of the tactile, physical process of making a painting—how the material itself guides your decisions. You know, art is such a conversation. This mask feels like a response to all the masks that came before it, but it is also throwing down a gauntlet to all the masks that come after. It is saying, ‘Here I am, a mask of many faces, of many possible meanings. What do you see when you look at me?’