A Toma Mask, "nyangbai" Lot n° 8

Mask, "nyangbai" Toma, Guinea / Liberia Ohne Sockel / without base Wood, iron. H 99 cm. Provenance: Gallery Walu, Zurich (1995). Monumental nyangbai mask from the poro society, which aimed at social control and harmonious continuation of society. The poro secret society consists of hierarchical degrees whose membership depends not only on age, but also on esoteric knowledge gained through initiation. As with the Senufo and other surrounding ethnic groups, each group of a rank has its own masked being. Depicted here is a being of the wilderness, a powerful bush spirit from the highest grade, who accompanied the pubescent boys during initiation in the sacred forest. The transition between the arched forehead area and the flat face area, which ends in an overlong chin, is particularly interesting in this true-to-form creation. Exactly there, on both sides of the concise nose, the eyes, which are very small in comparison, are barely visible. Nevertheless, or precisely because of this, the gaze of every observer wanders consistently and fascinatedly to exactly this spot again and again. The undoubtedly intentional, unusual physiognomic expression underscores the supernatural nature of this character mask, which has been formally reduced to the minimum. Further reading: Carey, Neil (2007). Masks of the Koranko Poro. Amherst: Ethnos Publications. CHF 3 000 / 6 000 EUR 3 000 / 6 000