54 - MALE ANCESTRAL STATUE - Bissagos Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau - Bidjogo

MALE ANCESTRAL STATUE - Bissagos Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau - Bidjogo First half of the 20th century. Wood, metal, very old, eroded, and dried-out patina. Significant damage due to weathering and wood-boring insects. Dimensions: H. 86 cm. The face features large, bulging eyes, each highlighted by a large nail. The mouth, with thick, fleshy lips, is rendered in relief. The top of the skull bears a carved crest-like hairstyle. The neck is long and cylindrical. The statue depicts a male figure standing on a rough circular base. The man holds both hands at the level of his abdomen, where a circular protrusion is visible (the focal point that brings the statue to life). In terms of its head and geometric features, this statue evokes a work by Raoul Hausmann (1886–1971), *The Spirit of Our Time*, created in 1919. As a member of the Dada movement (in both Zurich and Berlin), this artistic movement harbored a profound fascination with non-Western arts. Avant-garde artists sought to break with the academic conventions of the European bourgeoisie by drawing inspiration from the simplicity and raw power of African objects. Research and documentation: Coryse Mwape – Art historian specializing in ancient African art. Internal ref.: 324