BOGOLAN MALINESE PATTERN IN EARTH SHADES

ERBORE BOY WITH PAINTED FACE – OMO VALLEY ETHIOPIA. COURTESY PHOTO BY STEVEN GOETHALS

At Marmomac 2022 Bagnara explores ancient tribal cultures, faces, ornamental motifs, rituals and traditions of communities remote in time and space. The research culminates in the project of five tribal masks designed by Draw Studio, which, starting from museum archetypes or authentic pieces belonging to private collections, has freely reinterpreted the shapes, proportions and language of the masks, stylizing their features and adapting them to stone work. The result is a limited edition of 50 pieces, 10 of each mask: precious sculptures, entirely finished by hand and enriched by a burnished steel stand that allows them to be fitted on the wall or freestanding in domestic environments or exhibition spaces.

1. FANG MASK

FANG MASK – REINTERPRETATION OF A CEREMONIAL MASK MADE OF WOOD AND THEN COVERED WITH KAOLIN, USED BY THE FANG PEOPLE, DATING BACK TO THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY. CAMEROON, CENTRAL AFRICA. HERE MANUFACTURED FROM NERO ASSOLUTO ZIMBAWE. PHOTOS BY DIGITALMOVIE.

2. DOGON MASK

DOGON MASK – REINTERPRETATION OF A WOODEN CEREMONIAL MASK, USED BY THE DOGON AND SONGYE PEOPLES, FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY, IN MALI AND CONGO, CENTRAL AFRICA. ONE OF THE FEW PRESERVED SPECIMENS IS KEPT AT THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART, TEXAS (US). IT IS HERE MANUFACTURED FROM LASA MARBLE. PHOTOS BY DIGITALMOVIE.

3. ADUMA MASK

ADUMA MASK – REINTERPRETATION OF THE WOODEN CEREMONIAL MASK FROM THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY CALLED ‘ADOUMA’, LITERALLY ‘MAN OF THE RIVER’, BELONGING TO THE INLAND REGIONS OF GABON, CENTRAL AFRICA. HERE MANUFACTURED FROM NEGRESCO.  PHOTOS BY DIGITALMOVIE.

4. SONGYE MASK

SONGYE MASK – REINTERPRETATION OF A WOODEN CEREMONIAL MASK OF THE SONGYE TRIBE, WIDESPREAD IN NUMEROUS VARIATIONS AND DOCUMENTED UNTIL 1934 IN CONGO, CENTRAL AFRICA. IT IS MANUFACTURED FROM PORFIDO GARDENA. PHOTOS BY DIGITALMOVIE.

5. CHUGACH MASK

CHUGACH MASK – REINTERPRETATION OF A NATIVE AMERICAN CEREMONIAL MASK FOUND IN ALASKA AND DATING BACK TO THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY. AMONG THE RARE REMAINING SPECIMEN IS ONE FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE MET FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK (US). IT IS HERE MANUFACTURED FROM VITORIA REGIA. PHOTOS BY DIGITALMOVIE.