Culture Gabon - Yannis Davy Guibinga, jeune photographe Gabonais
“Being from a part of Africa not necessarily known by the general public, it is really important for me to represent not just my country and my people, but also the whole African continent through my work.” - Yannis Guibinga
Sculptural Element from a Reliquary Ensemble: Head
Gabon
Credit: Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection, 1950
Showing at the MET as part of the “African Art, New York, and the Avant-Garde
Sculptural Element from a Reliquary Ensemble: Head - African (Gabonese/Fang Culture)
ca. early 1900′s
The carved head pictured above has been separated from it’s body. This head and the complete figures are characteristic of the Fang clan. Named after the Byeri, a familial cult of the Fang, byeri heads and figures served as a kind of guardian for the living and dead. These reliquary figures protected ancestral remains from intruders and supernatural forces while also protecting vulnerable humans from dangerous ancestors. The Fang, residing in Africa, used to migrate quite often and had to adapt to their new surroundings quickly. Because of this nomadic lifestyle, wood was a common choice when it came to sculpting material. Although this piece in particular does not show much ornamentation, the Fang tended to reflect important symbols as well as jewelry and dress in their sculptures.
