Museum of African Art - Permanent display

The permanent display represents the art of traditional societies from West Africa and includes artifacts from Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Fasso, Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Togo, Cameroon and Congo. The objects are exhibited according to material type and geographic provenance, and they belong to artistic traditions of various ethnic groups: Bamana, Dogon, Kissi, Baga, Marka, Malinka, Bobo, Dan, Gere, Gouro, Senufo, Ashanti, Eve, Baule, Fon, Yoruba, and Bamileke.

The permanent display showcases the artistic heritage of sedentary communities who based their subsistence on farming and hunting. Numerous masks and sculptures are the predominant type of objects on display, and they are considered to be classical examples of tradition-based West African art. In their original setting they were put to use in agricultural and religious rituals, as well as various social ceremonies. Other types of artifacts that are exhibited represent objects of cult and everyday use, objects for magical and decorative purposes, as well as musical instruments. An array of materials is presented, ranging from textiles, pottery and ritual ceramics, to wood carvings, bronze sculpture and soapstone figurines.

Preparations for the renovation of the permanent display are underway. The new permanent display will feature tradition-based objects from West, East and Central Africa. The authors of the new exhibition are: Nataša Njegovanović Ristić, senior curator, (curatorial concept) and Ivan Kucina, architect, PhD (exhibition design).

Permanent exhibition: concept: JELENA ARANĐELOVIĆ LAZIĆ (First Museum Director), design: arh SLOBODAN i SAVETA MAŠIĆ.