This catalogue is part of Dalton Somaré Gallery’s research on classical African sculpture and was presented on the occasion of BRAFA Art Fair 2023.
Texts: Dalton Somaré
Year: 2023
Format: 23 × 28.5 cm
Pages: 55, 31 colour images
Language: English
The meaning of “Ikon” in African art
The term “Ikon” carries a double meaning. Originally, within religious traditions, it referred to a sacred image deserving reverence; in contemporary language, it designates an image that, through its representational power, becomes a symbol of a wider system of meanings and values.
The works presented in this catalogue embody both dimensions. They are Ikons because their creators sought to make visible supernatural presences, giving tangible form to the sacred. At the same time, they have become symbols of African art itself, recognised by generations of collectors and scholars as aesthetic benchmarks.
Iconic masterpieces of African sculpture
The extraordinary forms of Kota guardian figures, the spiritual tension of Fang Byeri sculptures, the geometric purity of Baule masks and the expressive intensity of Punu masks stand as emblematic examples of African sculptural language.
These works bring together abstraction and presence, formal rigor and symbolic force: the near-abstract structures of Kota figures, the ancestral gravity and volumetric softness of Fang Byeri, the essential geometry of Baule masks and the enigmatic, sometimes unsettling expression of Punu masks.
To these is added the dynamism of Luba figures, where the human body is deconstructed and reimagined through a rhythm of striking modernity.
African art and aesthetic revolution
These works may be seen as eponyms of a revolutionary visual language that profoundly transformed the history of art. Their influence contributed to redefining the very concept of representation, paving the way for the avant-garde movements of the 20th century.
Through these Ikons, African art has progressively gained recognition as a central component of global cultural heritage.
A catalogue between symbolism and collecting
IKONS of African Art stands as a reference catalogue, combining research, aesthetic quality and symbolic depth.
Through a rigorous selection of iconic works, the publication addresses collectors, scholars and enthusiasts, offering an in-depth perspective on African sculpture and its role in shaping contemporary visual sensibility.
