Index Ancestral male figure, Beembe people, Democratic Republic of Congo. Twentieth century. Time Loop III, Skunder Boghossian. 1981. Triptych “The blow to the head” (Kew'ata re'esu). Mid 17th-early 18th century, Ethiopia. Married woman's dress, Mfengu people, South Africa. Late 19th-mid 20th century. Koranic amulet (xirsi), Somali people, Somalia. Eighteenth century. Throughout Gainesville, there are many opportunities around diversity that connect to the art displayed in the Harn Museum here at the University of Florida. Specifically, the African art collection within the museum offers multiple works of art that serve as both beautiful lessons and representatives of diversity in the Gainesville community. African art is a type of art that has existed for approximately 75,000 years. Various types of African art are still relevant today and are also great representations of diversity. “Foreign colonization of most sub-Saharan African countries took place starting in the 1840s, and different values ​​became ubiquitous. Much of African art was acquired by curious means by travellers, traders and missionaries in the previous century and left the continent. Colonialists very often did not give indigenous art the credit and attention it deserved and therefore the history of African art was not preserved or documented.” (Evans). The representation of African art within the Harn Museum is strong and important for the diversity it brings to the museum. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Male ancestral figure, Beembe people, Democratic Republic of Congo. Twentieth century. This carved wooden shell is a miniature ancestral figure. “Impressive miniature ancestral effigy figures are among some of the most important art forms of the Beembe people of southwestern Congo. The Beembe believe that ancestors are a source of life-giving power and that effigy figures are a means of channeling their power to their descendants. (Harn). This specific figure has the same structures as many from this period. These figures are used as a safety barrier by spirits and are very sacred figures that the Beembe people often worshiped and loved. The people of Beembe had a lot of faith in these figures. People were often afraid of their own powers and abilities within a society. This, like many others, was most likely kept with a specific family. Many wealthy families had their own and used them for protection. Symbolic figures were very popular in African societies, and with all the different types of figures in existence, each had its own meaning and use. The many different uses and examples of African symbolic figures compare well to the diversity present in Gainesville. This is due to the different groups of African people who all fall into a similar category. Within Gainesville, there are multiple groups of people, but they all fall into the same category in terms of where they live as well. Time Cycle III, Skunder Boghossian. 1981. This bizarre looking piece of bark came from one of Skunder's trips to Uganda. This bark was “used locally for burial.” This specific piece has a great back story with it. Skunder knew how to treat bark artistically. This is due to the sensitivity of the cortex. The figures shown coming together on the bark fabric represent the beauty of mother nature, as well as showing volcanoes with lava flows and mountain formations. This piece may give viewers the right idea of ​​what Skunder was interested in. There is an abstract form of cosmological visions. “The motif of the concentric circle alcenter serves as a cosmogram in many cultures, including ancient Ethiopia, and also suggests the layout of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian churches, the dominant locus of Ethiopian spirituality and artistic production for centuries. The Ethiopian reference is strengthened by the image of the lion, perhaps alluding to the Ethiopian saint Samuel of Waldebba, who rode a lion that he had tamed”. (Harn). The artist wanted this to be an inviting piece, one that would allow viewers to really get a feel for what it is all about. There is something special about this piece regarding its materials. The work doesn't have a lot of color, which can make it seem difficult to show a lot of emotion. However Skunder has created a sense of space that uses shifting light and shadows to create something much more special. When a viewer watches this piece, they should feel the emotion and story that Skunder put into this. This is not just for show, but should be a relief built to tell a story. Triptych "Shot in the head" (Kew'ata re'esu). Mid 17th-early 18th century, Ethiopia. At first glance, this work of art does not strike the viewer as an African artist, however this work represents a very important and historically significant group of ideas. There is something very special about this piece and that is the fact that each part of the piece as a whole was produced at different times by different artists, all from different backgrounds. “Extraordinary interculturalism is evident in the paintings on the central and side panels and the bottom, which reflect diverse European, Indian and Ethiopian styles and iconographies.” There are many different images depicted within this piece. The central panel shows Christ with horns. This center panel is the image behind the title of this piece. The horns hit his head. This piece is a great representation of diversity thanks to its diverse group of artists who came together to create it. The central panel shows a strong sense of Indian influence. All five images within the work come together to share meaning. Triptychs are common art forms broken into three parts but held together into something that can be used to create an altarpiece. There are many famous triptychs that also tell important stories. A very famous altarpiece/triptych is the Annunciation Triptych (Merode Altarpiece) by Robert Campin. The triptych displays three images showing the Virgin Mary and the angel Gabriel. This was a significant story because of what the angel had come to tell Mary. She would become the mother of Jesus. This very detailed triptych was something that people admired. Triptychs that tell stories are important to those who look at them. Here in Gainesville, the idea of ​​diverse artwork is popular and common. The art displayed throughout the community is represented by multiple cultural groups and people. Married woman's dress, Mfengu people, South Africa. Late nineteenth century-mid twentieth century. Art can be classified into many things, and a piece does not need to be a painting or sculpture to be considered art. Clothing is often respected as art in many cultures. In African art, specific types of clothing are sacred and special to the people in them. The purpose of this dress is to show the status, wealth and ethnicity of a married woman. It connects anyone who wears it to their family and ancestors. “Several tribes across the continent take pride in their national clothes which they use for ceremonies and special occasions. There are many different styles of clothing and the type of fabric plays a huge role in the making of the garment. The fabric often reflects society at large as well as the status of individuals or groups within that community. In some.