Exhibition "Haut les masques

Exhibition on African masks at the Centre d'Art Sébastien.

Ancient African masks are above all objects imbued with sacredness. Used primarily for religious rituals and important ceremonies, they embody the link between the visible and invisible worlds. These masks are not simply aesthetic representations: they materialize supernatural forces, spirits of nature or ancestors. Their often stylized forms, combining human features and animal elements, reflect this desire to evoke a higher reality, far removed from everyday life. As the embodiment of divine powers, these masks play a fundamental role in maintaining order and protecting communities. They are seen as tools capable of warding off evil forces, bringing fertility or healing the sick. These masks are not simply worn, they are "inhabited" by supernatural entities who, during rituals, manifest themselves through dance, music and staging. While ancient masks served primarily spiritual and communal purposes, contemporary masks, although inspired by these sacred traditions, are moving away from them to take on a new dimension: that of political and social expression. Today's artists, while respecting the symbolic heritage of their ancestors, use masks as a means of expressing the complex realities of their countries. Contemporary masks no longer simply represent the supernatural; they now embody critiques of power, denunciations of social injustice or reflections on Africa's recent history. These works stand at the crossroads of art and protest, conveying a profound message about the challenges facing the continent. Issues of colonization, corruption and civil war are echoed in their works, where traditional aesthetics are hijacked to convey a political voice. This exhibition highlights the continuity between these two worlds, and shows how, in Africa, the art of the mask remains alive and well, and still carries profound meanings. Through these works, both ancient and contemporary, you'll discover an unceasing dialogue between past and present, between the sacred and the political.