U okviru programa Subota u Muzeju
tokom marta meseca predstavljamo
seriju javnih vođenja uz izložbu

Tegovi za merenje zlatnog praha naroda Akan

5. mart -     Od simbola sreće do škrinja za zlato: motivi akanskih tegova
12. mart -     Zlato zapadne Afrike u Starom svetu - od 10. do 16. veka
19. mart -     Zlatni prah kao novac i upotreba tegova kod Akana:
državni trezori i svakodnevna trgovina.
26. mart -     Mere i odmeravanje: cenkanje do poslednjeg zrna zlata

Program počinje u podne (12 h).
Ulaz je besplatan.

O IZLOŽBI:

Izložbom Tegovi za merenje zlatnog praha naroda Akan predstavljeno je više od 700 primeraka bronzanih tegova izlivenih u minijaturnim formama, koje se kreću od jednostavnih do bogato ukrašenih i kompleksnih geometrijskih oblika, i skulpturalnih rešenja koja prikazuju predmete, biljke, životinje, ljude, ili, pak, scene sa nekoliko ukomponovanih motiva. Čitavo bogatstvo oblika tegova, toliko raznolikih kao što su predstave piramide ili kruga, semena i ploda neke biljke, ptice na postolju, ili figura žene sa detetom u nosiljci i posudom na glavi, najrazličitiji apstraktni motivi i naturalistički prikazi, bili su pojedinačno ili u grupi vizuelni komplement ekonomskim aktivnostima u državama naroda Akan od 15. do kraja 19. veka.  Njihovo mesto bilo je na tasu vage, dok je drugi tas postavljan u balans odgovarajućom težinom zlatnog praha koji je služio kao sredstvo plaćanja. Težina tegova odgovarala je monetarnim vrednostima zlata, dok je njihova forma ispoljavala potrebu pojedinca i društva za komunikacijom, i izražavala umetnički senzibilitet kako stvaraoca, tako i svih onih koji ih koriste.

Kao materijalna svedočanstva iz prošlosti, tegovi pripadaju istoriji trgovačkih aktivnosti usmerenih ka bogatim nalazištima zlata u širokom pojasu zapadne Afrike, od Sahela do obala Gvinejskog zaliva. Bajkovite priče o zlatonosnim kišama, avanturistički duh i ekonomski interes pokretali su sve brojnije transsaharske karavane sa severa kontinenta od 9. veka, da bi od 15. veka  put zapadne Afrike krenule i preko-okeanske flote iz evropskih zemalja. O mitskim herojima, hrabrim ratnicima, religijskim ritualima, ceremonijalnim i predmetima svakodnevne upotrebe, usmenoj književnosti i mnogim drugim aspektima akanske kulture u narednim vekovima danas saznajemo na osnovu brojnih „zapisa“ u bronzi – tegova za merenje zlatnog praha čiji bogat repertoar oblika i motiva predstavlja čitav svet u malom.

MUZEJ AFRIČKE UMETNOSTI

Adresa: Andre Nikolića 14, 11000 Beograd, Srbija

Tel: + 381 11 2651 654

Tel/fax: + 381 11 2651 269

e-mail: africanmuseum@gmail.com

 As part of the Saturday at the Museum program
in March the MAA has the pleasure to announce
a series of guided-tours accompanying the exhibition

Akan Goldweights

March, 5th -     From Symbols of Luck to Chests for Gold: Akan Goldweight Motifs
March, 12th -    Gold of West Africa in the Old World – from the 10th to the 16th century
March, 19th -    Gold Dust as Currency and the Usage of Weights Among the Akan:
State Treasuries and Everyday Commerce
March, 26th -    Measurements and Sizing-up: Bargaining to the Last Grain of Gold

All tours commence at noon (12 a.m.)
Entrance is free.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION:

The Goldweights of the Akan exhibition has showcased over 700 bronze goldweights cast in miniature form, from the simplest to the more elaborately decorated and complex geometric shapes, as well as sculptural figures depicting different objects, plants, animals, people or, on the other hand, compositional scenes that include a range of motifs. The richness of goldweight shapes that vary from pyramidal forms or the circle, seeds and different fruits, birds placed on posts, or figures of women carrying children in wrappers, with bowls on their heads, miscellaneous abstract motifs and naturalistic images – were individually or in groups the visual accessory of economic activities that took place in the Akan states between the 15th until the end of the 19th century. The goldweights were placed on one scale pan and the amount of gold used as currency that brought the scale into balance, was placed on the other pan. The weight of the goldweights corresponded to the monetary value of gold, while their form expressed the need of the individual and society for communication, at the same time expressing the artistic sensibility of both the creator of the piece and all who used them.

As material testimonies from the past, goldweights belong to the history of commercial activities focused upon the rich gold deposits located across the vast area of West Africa, from the Sahel to the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Fairy tales of gold-bearing rain, the spirit of adventure and economic interests lured a growing number of trans-Saharan caravans from the north of the continent, from the 9th century and with the 15th century, overseas fleets from European countries started heading towards Western Africa. „Records“ about mythic heroes, brave warriors, religious rituals, objects of everyday and ceremonial use, oral lore and many other aspects of Akan culture in the following centuries are to be found today as „written“ in bronze – in the rich repertoire of goldweigth shapes and motifs that represent the whole world in small.

MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART

Adress: Andre Nikolića 14, 11000 Beograd, Srbija

Tel: + 381 11 2651 654

Tel/fax: + 381 11 2651 269

e-mail: africanmuseum@gmail.com