Table of contents Ancestral male figure, Beembe people, Democratic Republic of Congo. Twentieth century. Time Cycle III, Skunder Boghossian. 1981. “Hit his head” (Kew'ata re'esu) Triptych. Mid-17th-early 18th century, Ethiopia. Married woman's dress, Mfengu people, South Africa. Late 19th-mid 20th century. Koranic amulet (xirsi), Somali people, Somalia. 18th century. Throughout Gainesville, there are many opportunities for diversity related to the art on display at the Harn Museum here at the University of Florida. Specifically, the museum's African art collection features several works of art that both serve as great lessons and represent the diversity of the Gainesville community. African art is a type of art that has been around as long as 75,000 years ago. Different types of African art are still relevant today and are even great representations of diversity. “Foreign colonization of most sub-Saharan African countries took place from 1840 onwards and different values ​​became pervasive. Much African art was acquired for curious purposes by travelers, traders, and missionaries during the previous century and left the continent. More often than not, colonialists did not give indigenous art the credit and attention it deserved and as a result, African art history was not preserved or documented. (Evans). The representation of African art within the Harn Museum is strong and important because of the diversity it brings to the museum. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Male ancestral figure, Beembe people, Democratic Republic of Congo. 20th century. This wooden shell sculpture is a miniature ancestral figure. “Striking miniature ancestral effigies are among the most remarkable art forms of the Beembe people of southwestern Congo. The Beembe believe that ancestors are a source of life-giving power and that effigies are a means of transmitting their power to their descendants. (Harn). This specific figure has the same structures as many others from this era. These figures are used as a security barrier against spirits and are very sacred figures that the Beembe often worshiped and cherished. The Beembe people had a lot of confidence in these figures. People were often afraid of their powers and the abilities they had within a society. This one, like many others, most likely belonged to a specific family. Many wealthy families owned their own and used them for protection. Symbolic figures were very popular in African societies, and of all the types of figures that existed, each had its own meaning and use. The many different uses and examples of African symbolic figures can compare well to the diversity that exists in Gainesville. This is due to the different groups of Africans who all belong to the same category. In Gainesville, there are several groups of people, but they all also fall into the same category in terms of where they live. Time Cycle III, Skunder Boghossian. 1981. This bizarre piece of bark comes from one of Skunder's trips to Uganda. This bark was “used locally for burial”. This specific piece has a great back story. Skunder knew how to treat bark artistically. This is due to the actual sensitivity of the bark. The depicted figures that gather on the bark cloth represent the beauty of mother nature, as well as volcanoes with flowing lava and formationsmountainous. This piece can give viewers a good idea of ​​what Skunder was interested in. There is an abstract form of cosmological views. “The concentric circle motif in the center serves as a cosmogram in many cultures, including ancient Ethiopia, and also suggests the layout of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian churches, the dominant site of Ethiopian spirituality and artistic production for centuries. The Ethiopian reference is reinforced by the image of the lion, perhaps alluding to the Ethiopian saint Samuel de Waldebba, who rode a lion that he had tamed. (Harn). The artist wanted it to be an inviting work, allowing viewers to really get a feel for what it was about. There is something special about this piece when it comes to its materials. The artwork doesn't have a lot of color, which can make it seem difficult to show much emotion. However, Skunder has created a sense of space that uses changes in light and shadows to create something much more special. When a viewer watches this piece, they are meant to feel the emotion and story that Skunder put into it. It's not just for show, but it's meant to be a relief constructed to tell a story. “Hit his head” (Kew'ata re'esu) Triptych. Mid-17th-early 18th century, Ethiopia. At first glance, this work of art does not strike the viewer as an African artist, but this work represents a very important and historically significant group of ideas. There is something very special about this piece and that is the fact that each part of the piece as a whole was made at different times by different artists, all from different backgrounds. “A most extraordinary interculturalism is evident in the paintings on the central and side panels as well as the support, which reflect various European, Indian and Ethiopian styles and iconographies.” Many different images are depicted in this piece. The central panel depicts Christ with horns. This central panel is the imagination behind the title of this piece. The horns hit his head. This piece is a great representation of diversity because of the diverse group of artists who came together to create it. The central panel shows a strong sense of Indian influence. The five images in the piece come together to share a single meaning. Triptychs are common art forms divided into three parts but held together into something that can be used to create an altarpiece. There are many famous triptychs that also tell important stories. A very famous altarpiece/triptych is the Annunciation Triptych (Mérode Altarpiece) by Robert Campin. The triptych shows three images representing the Virgin Mary and the angel Gabriel. It was a significant story because of what the angel came to tell Mary. She was going to be the mother of Jesus. This highly detailed triptych was something that people admired. Triptychs that tell stories are important to those who view them. Here in Gainesville, the idea of ​​diverse artwork is popular and common. Art displayed throughout the community is represented by several cultural groups and individuals. Married woman's dress, Mfengu people, South Africa. Late 19th-mid 20th century. Art can be classified as many things, and a work does not have to be a painting or sculpture to be considered art. Clothing is often considered art in many cultures. In African art, certain types of clothing are sacred and special to the people who own them. The purpose of this dress is to show the status, wealth and ethnicity of a.