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EXHIBITION: ASIAN AND AFRICAN RITUAL MASKSCreated or Restored by Walter Dorn
Vernissage: Sunday 8th Dec. 7 pm
Finisage: Friday January 24th,2025 7 pm
open (in Dec) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 12:00 – 19:00 h
& Friday 25th Dec, 12:00 – 19:00 h, Monday 23rd 12:00 – 17:00 h
Masking oneself - in carnival - or hiding behind an everyday mask, or even giving up one's identity, invoking the power of ancient demons, goddesses, spirits in a rite: the use of masks can be found more or less in every culture and is very diverse. From the Stone Age in cult and religious rites to gas masks in wars or medical masks, there is a broad spectrum.
In the Fool, a small selection of Asian and African ritual masks are shown. Masks as they are presented in ethnographic museums often came to Europe from former colonies at the turn of the century. It is more or less justified to speak of cultural appropriation here.
The exhibits on display in The Fool, on the other hand, were largely made by the white European Walter Dorn.
As a self-taught artist, he has combined the use of ceramics, glaze and gold leaf as well as wood carving with his interest in African and Asian culture. His masks are inspired by photos from ethnographic books, sometimes enriched with his own imagination.
The sculptural depiction of the bizarre gods and goddesses, man-eaters or animal heads give an idea of the underlying rituals. Some of the masks are originals that the artist acquired at flea markets in Germany and restored, sometimes repainting them. The pagan non-European masks are accompanied by a witch from Switzerland and sculptures of guardians of hell.
All exhibits and some of the ethnographic books that served as inspiration for the artist, who died in 2020, are available for purchase. A photo album on display provides an additional insight into the creativity of the artist, who worked part-time as a ceramics teacher in adult education centers for over three decades.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Skalitzer Strasse 43, 10997 Berlin, Germany, Skalitzer Straße 43, 10997 Berlin, Deutschland,Berlin, Germany