Fancasso: Let The Story Be Told

The Challenge

This challenge invites you to explore the fascinating story of how African art influenced some of the most famous European artists of the 20th century. Artists like Picasso, Matisse, and Derain were deeply inspired by African masks and sculptures they encountered in Paris museums.

Your challenge is to create your own artwork inspired by this rich cultural connection. You might draw, paint, make a collage, or create a sculpture using materials you find at home.

The Story Behind the Art

In the early 1900s, European artists began visiting ethnographic museums in Paris, where they discovered African masks and sculptures. These artworks, created by the Yoruba of Nigeria, the Baule of Ivory Coast, the Fang of Gabon, and the Vili of the Congo, transformed the way these artists thought about form, colour, and expression.

The artist Maurice de Vlaminck is said to have started collecting African art after finding a piece in a bar in Argenteuil. André Derain was given a Fang mask that sparked his imagination. These encounters helped birth new movements in European art.

Your Task

1. Learn about African masks and their cultural significance. You can visit the Pitt Rivers Museum website to explore their collection.
2. Think about what stories you would like to tell through your art.
3. Create your own artwork inspired by African artistic traditions. This could be a mask, a sculpture, a painting, or any other form of visual art.
4. Give your artwork a title and write a short description explaining what it represents.

Tips for Getting Started

• Look at the shapes and patterns used in traditional African art. Notice how artists use geometric forms and bold lines.
• Think about symmetry and how facial features can be stylised.
• Consider the materials you have available. You could use cardboard, paper, paint, fabric scraps, or recycled materials.
• Remember that African masks often have deep spiritual and cultural meanings. Think about what emotions or stories your artwork might convey.