African Arts Gallery

The African mask Guéré is reputed to be a complex piece both in terms of shapes and, often, also materials. It is here devoid of accessories.
Before the 1960s, the masks, whose elaboration was inspired by the visits of spirits during dreams, accompanied most activities such as war, dance, singing, hunting. Each of these masks had a name associated with its function. It remained the property of the dancer's lineage. The front moves here in a visor, opposing the globular volumes and hooked in the center of the face. Horn-like projections meet on the forehead and under the nose, while a narrow incision forms the mouth. Indigo and red ochre highlights, kaolin on the eyes, enhance the speckled matte patina. If this mask is given a social function, as when required by the chief to order certain works, it may also be intended to distract the villagers.
The Guéré are formining an ethnic group from a forested region along côte d'Ivoire's western border. They are part of a wider people's name of Wé which also includes the Wobé ethnic group with which the Guéré share many customs and beliefs.