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Unexpected Aspects
in Dogon Art The art of the Dogon people viewed within its original religious context, by Marchinus Hofkamp author. A4, soft cover book, 115 pages, 300 photographs - price in 2025 : € 20,- plus shipping costs Fascinated by their culture and art, the writer repeatedly visited the Dogon people. Over the course of twenty-five years, many hikes took him to hundreds of villages, spread over an area the size of the Netherlands. And just as in the relatively small Netherlands, there were also regional or even local differences in dialect, architecture, religion and artistic expressions. Our usual dealings with such ethnographics appear to be based on a rather simplistic image of 'Dogon art', which does not do justice to the rich artistic diversity within this culture. The writer was often surprised by this, for example also by the image on the cover, originating from the little-known Pinari region. In this image one of the sculptors inspired by African art could be recognized as Modigliani. "Unusual Shapes" is therefore one of the thirty chapters in this book. |
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Commentary by the writer
Although “African art” in the Western world is preferably collected for its beauty, in the African continent itself the tribal story’s belonging to these artefacts are the most important.
After working for two years as a tropical doctor in Congo, I looked, since 1985 for a way to visit Africa again,but now in an area where it was somewhat easier to travel. The country of the Dogon in Mali turned out to be such an area. During many years, I travelled there during my vacations, and I hiked in a very basic way. Warmed by the sun and uplifted by the wonderful landscape, the hospitality of the Dogon, their customs and the stories surrounding them, and by the closely related artistic expressions. Much of that art is, even now, disappearing, often associated with changing customs, mainly caused by increasing Islamization. A welcome resource for local trade in tribal art. Without the accompanying stories these ethnographic objects can of course still be quite beautiful, but they also become "displaced". 'Orphaned beauty', and that is regrettable.
Against that background it was obvious to me that in this book 'beauty of art’ for once should not be the main theme, although you will find enough beauty to enjoy in it. In addition to a glimpse into the country and local customs, you will above all find sculptures, masks and stories, which surprised me.
Many unexpected aspects and backgrounds, that you will barely or not at all find in the usual art books about the Dogon people. In addition to a remarkable diversity of forms in which "beauty" of art is often absolutely central, a range of aspects associated with religion and customs, are discussed. Animism – the belief that everyone and everything has a soul – takes herein an important place. To mention some of these aspects: the function of images - the hidden face - nail fetishes - double sex (hermaphroditism)- transformation - animal figures - oracle figurines. Gladly I share this expressive art, and the stories behind it. Because of these local stories I obtained many answers to questions I had, but there are still many questions that remained unanswered. And, as it is the case with any investigation, answers raise new questions. Art, and especially the ethnographic art, continues to intrigue.
The book can be ordered by using this contact form.
Although “African art” in the Western world is preferably collected for its beauty, in the African continent itself the tribal story’s belonging to these artefacts are the most important.
After working for two years as a tropical doctor in Congo, I looked, since 1985 for a way to visit Africa again,but now in an area where it was somewhat easier to travel. The country of the Dogon in Mali turned out to be such an area. During many years, I travelled there during my vacations, and I hiked in a very basic way. Warmed by the sun and uplifted by the wonderful landscape, the hospitality of the Dogon, their customs and the stories surrounding them, and by the closely related artistic expressions. Much of that art is, even now, disappearing, often associated with changing customs, mainly caused by increasing Islamization. A welcome resource for local trade in tribal art. Without the accompanying stories these ethnographic objects can of course still be quite beautiful, but they also become "displaced". 'Orphaned beauty', and that is regrettable.
Against that background it was obvious to me that in this book 'beauty of art’ for once should not be the main theme, although you will find enough beauty to enjoy in it. In addition to a glimpse into the country and local customs, you will above all find sculptures, masks and stories, which surprised me.
Many unexpected aspects and backgrounds, that you will barely or not at all find in the usual art books about the Dogon people. In addition to a remarkable diversity of forms in which "beauty" of art is often absolutely central, a range of aspects associated with religion and customs, are discussed. Animism – the belief that everyone and everything has a soul – takes herein an important place. To mention some of these aspects: the function of images - the hidden face - nail fetishes - double sex (hermaphroditism)- transformation - animal figures - oracle figurines. Gladly I share this expressive art, and the stories behind it. Because of these local stories I obtained many answers to questions I had, but there are still many questions that remained unanswered. And, as it is the case with any investigation, answers raise new questions. Art, and especially the ethnographic art, continues to intrigue.
The book can be ordered by using this contact form.
