HELP EXPLAIN PLEASE! FOUND PAINTING w/KKK(?) WEARING MASKS DOING AFRICAN TRIBAL DANCE?!

Discussion in 'Art' started by journeymagazine, Sep 7, 2018.

  1. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    I found this at a local thrift store today - it is one if the most...intriguing(?) paintings I've found in awhile.
    Are these African dancers wearing masks that just happen to look like KKK masks, or is this a painting of KKK members imitating a African tribe dance?
    Or am I completely off base?
    Thanks
    AA EBAY NEW A ART PAINTING KLU KLUX KLAN ARICAN DANCING PAINTING 1AA RESIZED.jpg AA EBAY NEW A ART PAINTING KLU KLUX KLAN ARICAN DANCING PAINTING 2AA.jpg AA EBAY NEW A ART PAINTING KLU KLUX KLAN ARICAN DANCING PAINTING 3AA.jpg AA EBAY NEW A ART PAINTING KLU KLUX KLAN ARICAN DANCING PAINTING 4AA.jpg
     
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  2. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    "just happen to look like" (and not even all that much like.) The klan never had pompoms on their hoods or fringed edges on their sleeves. ;)
     
  3. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    Makes sense - so what are they?
     
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  4. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    I think "Carnival" dancers.
     
  5. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Carnivale/Mardi Gras somewhere? A Krew? [just scooped by Bakers] There's an emblem recurring throughout of a white circle quartered by black lines with one quarter filled in with red.
     
  6. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    I know: Ku Klux Krew.
     
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  7. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    For someone who knows drums, that may be the easiest bit to id.

    edit: That is, if it's not a complete fantasy piece.
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2018
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  8. yourturntoloveit

    yourturntoloveit Well-Known Member

    Journeymagazine, I am just curious as to what "element" of the painting first caught your attention. ;)

    I got "stuck" on the lower left-side of the painting with what "almost" looks like a small "jester" face/mask, replete with a green cap/hat with a green "dangle" and green "collar-ish" piece "floating" in space.

    Then "floating" above the jester-figure is a two-horned bell on a black stick with several colors of "fringe" and then what I think is a tambourine with red "somethings" on it. :rolleyes:
     
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  9. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    After some sleep, I know what that little repeating symbol reminds me of -- medicine wheel.

    The more I think about this piece, the more I think it's a bit of a bad dream the artist had. It's cheery, yet creepy. A mess of symbols and made up stuff (I don't think that drum exists anywhere, but I am not a drum person).

    There may be some real word ceremony this piece depicts, but I don't think so.

    And while it's not something I would hang, there's some definite skill there.
     
  10. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    The - What I thought was - kkk masks & robes dancing around a african drum is what caught my eye!
     
  11. Jeff Drum

    Jeff Drum Well-Known Member

    The drum is a conga drum. First made in Cuba in the 1930’s, but now a widely used hand drum for all Latin American music. Sometimes Used for carnival music so Carnival parade makes sense. This painting is from 1997 I think so could be from anywhere as these drums are really common now, but maybe Cuba.
     
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  12. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    Well, see there. I would have never considered that a conga drum.
     
    judy likes this.
  13. Fid

    Fid Well-Known Member

    south american procession of "semana santa" ?
     
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  14. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    Anyone heard of the artist?
     
  15. Jivvy

    Jivvy the research is my favorite

    I think that's more about a whole lot of somber repentance...
     
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