Having taken many art history courses it is interesting to note that this curator has never mentioned that African art was considered 'out of the canon' for western acceptability, and was considered 'primitive' art, not worthy of museum. And now it's lauded and respected for what artistic voice it gives to the world. Only time caught up with the blind operatives of a canon that excluded anything that wasn't European.
Isn't it almost a compliment that African art was not previously in the art museums with their entrenched canon but was recognised as excitingly new by important artists such as Picasso or Schmidt-Rottluffs. These avant-gardists saw what was in this great art. And how long did it take for this art to be seen as art in Africa too, and by many people in the cities not as something embarrassing that people from the countryside do. (I am not talking about Benin here, but about masks and figures).
I would enjoy the art so much more if there was less verbiage. Not interested in the opinions and excess talking. I can see it all and enjoy it without the verbiage.
