There is something to be said about fakes in tribal art, often seeming somehow to lack soul, and not quite having some kind of ring of truth. For example, they’re often somehow seemingly made to shock us, or to please us. The very finest works of tribal art, New Guinea art, or African art in my opinion, somehow have a lack of any interest in our perception at all, they’re sort of in another world. You can sort of see that in retrospect but can you always be certain with every piece you come across? No, I don’t think so.

{ The philosophy of authenticity, fakes and forgers | ABC | Continue reading }

artwork { Kefwele mask, Songye tribe, Congo }

art, ideas | November 7th, 2009