Tribal Art - The Concept
Tribal Art refers to the artifacts and objects, the tribes of rural areas create. Produced mostly for religious reasons, rather than as a model of artistry, its myriad uses differ from tribe to tribe. Right from the decoration of the objects of daily use to spiritual ceremonial functions, Tribal Art can be witnessed in several life events. Tribes are often isolated from civilizations, with no tradition of literacy. Therefore, art is a potential means to represent and preserve tribal traditions, mythology, and history. In the Western Art scene, the most well known Tribal Art genres are from the tribes in the remote areas of Central and South America.
The Details
While the geography and the climate of a region primarily influence Tribal Art, the social and religious needs of a tribe and the availability of resources are also other important factors determining its evolution & proliferation. Due to the lack of technology access, artisans mostly employ hand-tools made of natural materials, such as stone, wood, tusks, bones, skin of animals, dyes made from minerals, baskets woven with natural grasses, pottery made of clay, and sand for painting, to mention some. The designs and symbols used relate to favorable weather, good crops, successful hunting, illness cures, and other natural happenings common to the tribe. The most creative works of Tribal Art are the images of dream and supernatural visions. Tribal Art is unchanging in style, owing to the limited influence from the outside world. They usually sustain on the internal trade exchanges among the tribes.
Genres
o Inuit - It refers to the culturally similar group, residing in the Arctic region of Canada, Greenland, Russia, and the United States. The art forms here include from ivory & bone sculptures and figurative works on soft stones, such as soapstone & argillite. Hunting, whaling, and other everyday activities are the commonest subjects.
o Navajo Folk Art - It refers to the Tribal Art from Bluff town in Utah, US. With significant exposure to the civilized world, this art form has diverse whimsical creations, such as vibrantly painted wooden chicken, cowboy riding buffaloes, dog in business suit, etc. Horsehair, wool, and leather are primarily used. Their pictorial rugs, pottery, and sand paintings are famous across the world.
o Hopi Tribe - It resides in the high desert plateaus of North Arizona. Art is inherent in this deeply religious tribe, varying across hand woven kilts & sashes, baskets & pottery, jewelery, Katsina carvings, and Kachina dolls, & toys for children.
o Iroquois Confederacy Homelands - They are in the upstate New York and across the border into Canada. With a culture rich in tradition & history, their motifs span across animals, sun, moon, and other natural elements. The myriad art forms of this tribe include basket weaving, beadwork, pottery, cornhusk artifacts, stonework, woodwork, and metal carving to mention some.
Conclusion
The uniqueness of each form of Tribal Art comes from the history and culture of the respective tribe. The recognition of tribes by the Federal Government and the rights granted to the civilized world to interact with tribes had significant influence on Tribal Art and culture, giving way to Contemporary Tribal Art. With the given exposure, the artifacts are commonplace in museums and souvenir outlets, across the globe.
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