Hofstra Museum of Art: Art of Dogon

February 8-July 22, 2022 David Filderman Gallery

Curator’s Statement The Hofstra University Museum of Art collection contains 296 works of African art representing more than 70 different ethnic cultures, mainly located in western and central Africa. Within this highly regarded collection of African art are 66 works of art by the Dogon people. The Dogon reside primarily in a row of cliffs known as the Bandiagara Escarpment, located in the central plateau region of Mali and in Burkina Faso. The figures, masks, jewelry, and other works in the exhibition are drawn from the Museum’s collection and point to the significance of art in daily life. These artifacts range from utilitarian, such as granary doors and locks, to spiritual objects whose purpose is to connect the earthly world with the supernatural.

The Dogon are an agricultural society who cultivate crops such as millet, sorghum, and rice. The harvested grain is stored in granaries with wooden doors and locks that are intricately carved with images such as crocodiles, human figures, and geometric patterns. Personal adornment, worn by both men and women, connect the wearer to an immediate ancestor and can identify an individual’s family, village, and clan.

Much of Dogon art is created in tandem with religious practices and reflects the mythology of the culture. In the Dogon belief system, gods are both helpful and threatening; they can provide blessings but also bring death. At a sacrificial altar, an officiant will recite an incantation while adding substances (water, rice gruel, millet cake or mush, beer, etc.) to a figurative sculpture. The ritual identifies the supplicant and their problem, and draws the attention of supernatural beings to the proceedings, intensifying contact. Common petitions are blessings for a good harvest, requests for adequate rain, or relief from illness or infertility. The sacrifice activates the sculpture; without it, the carving is simply a piece of wood.

The Dogon creation myth is highly detailed and complex. A brief summary begins with Amma, the god who existed in the ”before” time and created the world. Amma became one with the Earth and produced Ogo, symbolic of disaster. The chaos associated with Ogo is countered by Amma’s creation of Nommo, who represents order. Nommo arrived on Earth with eight assistants, consisting of four sets of twins, each including a male and female. The duality of the twins underscores the importance of balance, which is a central theme in Dogon spirituality and myth. For example, paired figures refer to the primordial couple from whom all subsequent generations originated. The birth of twins is a sign of good luck.

The Dogon works of art on view, dating from the 19th and 20th centuries, illustrate the tremendous richness and depth of traditional cultural practices and art forms. The Dogon is a living culture whose material objects continue to be used in rituals and masquerades supporting spiritual traditions. In the 21st century, the Dogon region and villages have become one of Mali’s largest tourist destinations. Modifications to these traditions have been made in order to present them to a wider audience.

Karen T. Albert Director, Hofstra University Museum of Art

EXHIBITION CHECKLIST

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1 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Covered Bowl with Equestrian Figure, 19th century Wood with pigment and patina 30 x 9.125 x 10 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Sol and Josephine Levitt HU92.55 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Necklace, 20th century Iron and stone 15 x 3.5 x 1.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.2 2 2 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Necklace, 20th century Iron 24 x 3 x 1.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.3

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3 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Pendant in the form of a Crocodile and Human Head, 20th century Bronze and leather strap 17 x 2 x 1.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.4

African, Mali, Dogon peoples Necklace, 20th century Iron and stone 18 x 4 x 1.25 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.5 4 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Horse and Rider, 20th century Wood with pigment and patina 4 x 1 x 3.25 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.10 5 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Balafon Players, 20th century Wood with pigment 11.125 x 6.25 x 5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.15 6 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Monkey Mask, 20th century Wood with pigment and patina 11.5 x 5.75 x 4.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.16

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7 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Kneeling Maternity Figure, 20th century Wood with pigment and patina 21.75 x 6 x 6.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.18 8 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Granary Door, 20th century Wood with pigment, patina, metal, and iron 9.75 x 14.5 x 3.875 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.20 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Standing Male Figure, 20th century Wood with pigment and patina 34 x 8 x 6.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.21 9 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Door, 20th Century Wood with pigment, patina, metal, and iron 62 x 22.5 x 3.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.22

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African, Mali, Dogon peoples Door Panel, 20th century Wood with pigment and patina 30 x 7 x 3.25 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.28

African, Mali, Dogon peoples Mask, 20th century Wood with pigment and patina 15.5 x 7.75 x 8.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.35

African, Mali, Dogon peoples Seated Male Figure, 20th century Wood with pigment, patina, metal, and iron 11 x 2.5 x 2.75 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.29

African, Mali, Dogon peoples Horse and Rider, 20th century Bronze with patina 10 x 3.125 x 3.75 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.36.ABC

African, Mali, Dogon peoples Granary Door, 20th century Wood 12 x 8.625 x 2.375 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.30 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Primordial Couple, 20th century Wood with pigment and patina 29 x 9.75 x 7.25 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.33

10 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Horse and Rider, 20th century Iron with patina 9.5 x 9.875 x 2.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.37 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Horse and Rider, 20th century Metal, iron, and patina 9.25 x 17.75 x 2.75 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.38

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African, Mali, Dogon peoples Monkey Mask, 20th century Wood with pigment and patina 13 x 6 x 4.625 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.42 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Kneeling Couple, early 20th century Wood with pigment and patina 20 x 6 x 5.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.43 11 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Seated Male Figure, 20th century Wood with pigment and patina 30 x 7.25 x 9 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Roda Graham HU2005.3.45 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Bracelet, late 19th/early 20th century Bronze with use patina 1.25 x 3.25 in. diameter Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Pascal James Imperato HU2014.5

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12 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Bracelet, early 20th century Bronze with use patina 0.65 x 2.5 in. diameter Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Pascal James Imperato HU2014.6 13 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Bracelet, early 20th century Bronze with use patina 0.625 x 3.25 in. diameter Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Pascal James Imperato HU2014.7 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Bracelet, early 20th century Bronze with use patina 1 x 3.25 in. diameter Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Pascal James Imperato HU2014.8

14 African, Mali, Dogon peoples Granary Door Lock, late 19th/early 20th century Wood, nails, and use patina 9.875 x 11.125 x 1.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Pascal James Imperato HU2018.3 15 African, Mali, Arrondissement of Kendie, Cercle of Bandiagara, Dogon peoples Crocodile Mask (wada kakada), late 19th/early 20th century Wood with pigments, encrustation, woven cord, and patina 16 x 31 x 8 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Pascal James Imperato HU2019.4 African, Mali, Cercle of Bandiagara, Dogon peoples Figure, late 19th century Wood 11 x 2.25 x 2.5 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Pascal James Imperato HU2020.1

Funding for this exhibition has been provided by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

Cover image: African, Mali, Dogon peoples, Primordial Couple, 20th century, wood with pigment and patina, 29 x 9.75 x 7.25 in.

Hofstra University Museum of Art, gift of Roda Graham, HU2005.3.33