Nok - mysterious sculptures from West Africa
Nok sculptures are among the oldest artistic representations of the human form from Africa and archeologists are still seeking to unlock their secrets. A selection is now on show at the Liebighaus in Frankfurt.
Nok. Origin of African sculpture
Nok sculptures are amongst the most significant archeological finds in sub-Saharan Africa. The more than 2,000 year-old terracotta figures are among the earliest examples of African art. They can be seen until 23.02.2014 at the Liebighaus in Frankfurt in an exhibition entitled "Nok. Origin of African Sculpture."
Plunderers hinder archeologists' work
The name Nok comes from a small settlement, located on the Jos plateau in Central Nigeria. It was here that tin miners discovered the first sculptures in 1928. Since 2005 a team of German and Nigerian archeologists have been working at 200 sites. Their work is frequently hampered by thieves who plunder and destroy the prehistoric sites.
Discovering prehistoric Nigeria
Once the reddish-brown Nok figures have been unearthed, archeologists begin the painstaking process of restoration. In addition to the sculptures, they are also interested in everyday objects like earthenware vessels, pottery and jewellery. They hope the finds will enable them to paint a detailed picture of the prehistoric culture that lived in what is now Nigeria.
Humanity's oldest iron production site?
Ancient smelting furnaces indicate that one of the oldest iron production sites in human history was located here. Heaps of slag and the remains of furnaces are seen as evidence that industrial metal production was carried out here up to 500 years ago. The production of iron can be traced back to the Nok era around 500 B.C.
Purpose of the figures still a mystery
The function of the sculptures is still largely a matter for speculation. Researchers believe they were used in various rituals. What is clear is that their destruction was part of the ceremony. Hundreds of shards have been found, leading researchers to believe that the figures were intentionally destroyed and scattered so that they could no longer be restored.
Humans, animals and mythical beasts
A characteristic feature of the scuptures are the pointed, disproportionately large faces and the triangular eyes with deep dents representing the pupils. Other artistic embellishments include individual details such as beards, jewellery, extravagant hairstyles and head coverings. The sculptures depict human beings, animals and mythical creatures that are half animal, half human.
Inspiration for Picasso and others
When the first Nok sculptures came to Europe in the early 20th century, they set off an artistic revolution. While many conventional Europeans regarded them as primitive art, they were seen as inspirational by artists such as Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso or Ernst Luwig Kirchner. For them, the sculptures provided the legitimization to break away from the realistic and the representational in art.
Internationally sought art treasures
Collectors worldwide soon became interested in the sculptures. Initially, they were known only to connoisseurs. But soon they began to appear on the market in larger numbers, in Paris, London and New York. Today the figures can be admired in most of the world's leading museums.
Stolen art and forgeries
On international art markets, Nok figures change hands for several million euros. However many of them are either stolen or forged. The Liebighaus exhibition has a section devoted to such copies which are displayed together with the originals.
Exchange between ancient cultures
The Nok sculptures are on show in the rooms devoted to ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt. They can be compared and contrasted with works of art from those civilizations. 2,000 years ago, the Sahara was an impassable barrier which prevented exchange between cultures, but here the artifacts are just a few steps apart.
The first of its kind
The Liebighaus exhibition is the first in Germany to focus on African art from this period. More than 100 sculptures and fragments discovered by German and Nigerian archeologists over the last eight years are on display . The gallery also presents initial research results which reveal some of the secrets of the Nok culture.