Bernard Dulon,  Events,  Friedman and Vallois,  The Kota Ancestors,  Tribal Art

Country Figures in the Metropolis

May 9, 2011 / 2 Comments
“There is a history in all men’s lives”
William Shakespeare
Henry IV, Part 2, Act 3, scene 1, line 75


Starting Wednesday, May 11, until Saturday, June 11, Friedman and Vallois, an art deco gallery in the upper east side, will present one of the most comprehensive and illustrious exhibit on tribal art called The Kota Ancestors. In view of the fact that some museums and galleries in the city have all together ceased to feature African and Asian art, and instead opted for more contemporary art work (this is mainly due to the high cost incurred by most African and Asian exhibits), I can comfortably say that this display is a breath of fresh air, and it will certainly attract some of the most ardent art lovers.

The Kota Ancestors Exhibition is from the private collection of Bernard Dulon, an art collector, and dealer from Paris.  Dulon will be at the gallery during the opening reception on Thursday, May 12th between 4 – 8 PM.

Who were the Kota people? 
They were made up of numerous smaller groups of folks who practiced ancestor worship.  That simple fact was the foundation of their art.  Throughout eastern Gabon, this sort of thing was widely practiced, and their art forms are connected in one way or another to the veneration or storage of ancestral remains.  In some respect, what makes Kota art so different is the fact that they are unique and distinctive, as they are made of reliquary figures with stylized heads covered in copper sheeting.

When you visit the Friedman & Vallois gallery during the Kota Ancestors Exhibit, you will step into the world of a very old, and revered tribe of people, who were both remarkable and unique.  Altogether the collection is made up of twenty pieces from the nineteenth Century culled from an esteemed private collection.

Friedman & Vallois

27 East 67 Street
New York, NY 10065
212.517.3820
www.vallois.com
www.expertiseartafricain.com

This exhibit coincide with the inaugural of the Tribal Art New York/Africa Oceania Americas from Thursday, May 12 – Sunday, May 15, 2011 from 11am – 9pm.  Th participating galleries are:

Tambaran Gallery:  5 East 82nd Street, NYC
Alaska on Madison:  1065 Madison Avenue, NYC
John Molloy:  49 East 78 Street, NYC
John Giltsoff at Mallett:  929 Madison Avenue, NYC
Bernard Dulon at Friedman & Vallois:  27 East 67 Street, NYC
Galerie Schoffel-Valluet:  34 East 67 Street
NASSER & Co:  34 East 67 Street, NYC
Bruce Frank Gallery:  215 West 83 Street, NYC
Pace Primitive:  32 East 57 Street, NYC
www.aoany.com

KOTA RELIQUARY FIGURE
Mahongwe people Gabon 19th century wooden frame
with copper and brass plates

Tribes of the Kota Obamba group would place a copper and brass plated wooden figure on top of their ossuaries which then took the generic name of mbulu ngulu (literally basket with a figure).  Each piece was given its own name, thus implying an actual attempt at physical portrait.
KOTA RELIQUARY FIGURE
Obamba people Gabon 19th Century wooden frame
with copper and brass plates
KOTA RELIQUARY FIGURE
Obamba people Gabon 19th Century wooden frame
with copper and brass plates
 RELIQUARY FIGURE OR MBULU NGULU
Kota-Obamba people, Gabon 19th Century wooden frame
with brass and copper

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2 Comments

  • New York Tribal ARt Week

    May 10, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    Tribal Art events in New York this week

    Traditonal art from Africa, Oceania and the Americas takes center stage in New York City this week with a wealth of gallery exhibitons, auctions, and events focused on tribal art.

    NYC Tribal Art Week

    From May 9 to 15, coinciding with tribal art auctions at Sotheby’s and Bonhams, a consortium of leading specialists will offer traditional African, Asian, Oceanic, American and Asian works of art of the highest quality, including rare masterpieces as well as more affordable items:

    Cassera Arts Premiers – 40 W 25th Street Gallery 16 -(212)873-1937

    Mark Eglinton Tribal Art – 40 W 25th Street Gallery 226 – (646)675-7150

    Nault Tribal Art – 40 W 25th Street Gallery 226 – (405)642-4414

    Throckmorton Fine Art – 145 E 57th Street, 3rd Floor – (212)223-1059

    Arte Primitivo, Howard S Rose Gallery, Inc. – 3 East 65th Street – (212)570-6999

    Hemingway African Gallery – 1050 2nd Avenue at 55th Street, galleries 96 and 97 -(212)838-6350

    Turner Gallery – 418 E 75th Street – (212)737-2650

    Reynold C Kerr – By Appointment Only (212)737-7299

    Tabwa Gallery – 66 Greenwich Av – (212)924-8444

    Alan Steele – 87 E Houston Street – By appointment (212)966-3735

    Sotheby’s – 1334 York Ave at 72nd St. (Two sessions on May 13, The Robert Rubin Collection of African Art and African, Oceanic, and Pre-Columbian Art)

    Bonhams – 580 Madison Ave. (Fine African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art on May 12)

    For more information and a map of locations: http://www.nyctribalartweek.com

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