Okuyi Funeral Mask
Painting of an African Mask
Unframed Oil on Canvas Original
40" x 26"
Punu People, Gabon
One of the well-known Punu art objects are the white masks, now known as the Punu masks. The masks are life-size and can cover a person’s face. They are worn by dancers in south Gabon. When there is a major community event, such as a dance performed for a secret society, dancers wear these masks. Male dancers are known to wear the Okuyi mask while dancing.
The white-faced masks are also used by other Gabon and Zaire rainforest peoples, such as the Kotas and Mpongwe. The Ashira also share in the white-faced mask tradition, which includes soft facial characteristics. The masks have been linked to the Mukui society and to female ancestor celebration dances, a funerary spirit association.
Black masks in Punu culture were worn by dancers as training masks, who perform first to announce the arrival of the white mask dancer, who is more experienced. Sometimes, when a misfortune happens to a group, they take white masks and paint them black. This type of mask is only danced with in the dark at night. Different from the other two masks, these black masks are rarely found in museums because they were hidden very carefully. They hid these masks because of the belief that they are dangerous and have an evil nature. This painting was inspired by a black mask.
The Punu feared evil spirits and have always associated illness and death with being caused by someone, not as a natural event. People believed that jealousy from others could cause harm or death to a successful person. Illness was seen as the work of an evil spirit, and the only way to heal was through a special ritual to cast away the spirit’s influence.
One in a series of eleven paintings inspired by tribal African masks from museums and private collections. They were in use during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Painting of an African Mask
Unframed Oil on Canvas Original
40" x 26"
Punu People, Gabon
One of the well-known Punu art objects are the white masks, now known as the Punu masks. The masks are life-size and can cover a person’s face. They are worn by dancers in south Gabon. When there is a major community event, such as a dance performed for a secret society, dancers wear these masks. Male dancers are known to wear the Okuyi mask while dancing.
The white-faced masks are also used by other Gabon and Zaire rainforest peoples, such as the Kotas and Mpongwe. The Ashira also share in the white-faced mask tradition, which includes soft facial characteristics. The masks have been linked to the Mukui society and to female ancestor celebration dances, a funerary spirit association.
Black masks in Punu culture were worn by dancers as training masks, who perform first to announce the arrival of the white mask dancer, who is more experienced. Sometimes, when a misfortune happens to a group, they take white masks and paint them black. This type of mask is only danced with in the dark at night. Different from the other two masks, these black masks are rarely found in museums because they were hidden very carefully. They hid these masks because of the belief that they are dangerous and have an evil nature. This painting was inspired by a black mask.
The Punu feared evil spirits and have always associated illness and death with being caused by someone, not as a natural event. People believed that jealousy from others could cause harm or death to a successful person. Illness was seen as the work of an evil spirit, and the only way to heal was through a special ritual to cast away the spirit’s influence.
One in a series of eleven paintings inspired by tribal African masks from museums and private collections. They were in use during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Painting of an African Mask
Unframed Oil on Canvas Original
40" x 26"
Punu People, Gabon
One of the well-known Punu art objects are the white masks, now known as the Punu masks. The masks are life-size and can cover a person’s face. They are worn by dancers in south Gabon. When there is a major community event, such as a dance performed for a secret society, dancers wear these masks. Male dancers are known to wear the Okuyi mask while dancing.
The white-faced masks are also used by other Gabon and Zaire rainforest peoples, such as the Kotas and Mpongwe. The Ashira also share in the white-faced mask tradition, which includes soft facial characteristics. The masks have been linked to the Mukui society and to female ancestor celebration dances, a funerary spirit association.
Black masks in Punu culture were worn by dancers as training masks, who perform first to announce the arrival of the white mask dancer, who is more experienced. Sometimes, when a misfortune happens to a group, they take white masks and paint them black. This type of mask is only danced with in the dark at night. Different from the other two masks, these black masks are rarely found in museums because they were hidden very carefully. They hid these masks because of the belief that they are dangerous and have an evil nature. This painting was inspired by a black mask.
The Punu feared evil spirits and have always associated illness and death with being caused by someone, not as a natural event. People believed that jealousy from others could cause harm or death to a successful person. Illness was seen as the work of an evil spirit, and the only way to heal was through a special ritual to cast away the spirit’s influence.
One in a series of eleven paintings inspired by tribal African masks from museums and private collections. They were in use during the 19th and early 20th centuries.