Writing Assignment #2: Attribution
The hand-held wooden-sculpture pictured can be attributed to the Luba people who created the Lukasa (memory board). The memory boards illustrate the political organization and the historical chronicles of the Luba peoples. Lukasa belongs to the Mbudye Society, a council of both men and women who are responsible for interpreting the political values of the Luba state. The Lukasa (memory board) was estimated to be created between the 19th and 20th century in the Democratic Republic of Congo, home of the Luba people. Although many Lukasa use shells and beads studded to the wooden surface, the wood-sculpture pictured has incised designs and carved images in the relief; however, they both still communicate historical …show more content…
Unity is demonstrated through the configuration of the beads or ideograms, representing political events and relationships. The beads all work together to display the political history of the Luba people. Variety is illustrated through the multi-colored beads, carved symbols, and geometric designs. The multitude of contrasting materials used to create this artwork establish a sense of curiosity. Rather than having a flat surface, the Lukasa has many parts to it that make it three-dimensional . It’s form is demonstrated through the oval-shaped pieces protruding in the center of the Lukasa, the cylindrical shapes on the top-left and bottom-right, as well as the studded colored beads which add dimension to the surface of the board. Similar to the Lukasa, the unknown sculpture also displays unity, variety, and form. Unity is exemplified through the many circular and rectangular images extending from the surface of the sculpture. They are placed in a manner that compliment each other, while leaving little negative space, so that the artwork appears complete. Variety is also illustrated through the many different characteristics displayed in the artwork, including circular shapes with faces and diagonal lines on them, as well as patterned rectangular pieces of various sizes. Form is demonstrated through the incised designs and images that are carved in the relief. The incisions …show more content…
The interpretation and reading of the surface was limited to only the elite members of the Mbudye Society, including people who could predict the future (diviners), and those who had extensive religious training. It mainly functions as a memory aid that contains significant historical information regarding the origins of the Luba empire as well as the mappings of the “Spirit Capitals”— palaces which housed the remnants of former kings.
Additionally, the board was read during rituals in which the elite members read the beads by feeling it with their hands, while telling the story of the Luba people. The unknown board would serve the same function because it also possesses carved images that are deciphered by touching the board. Similar to the Lukasa, the unknown sculpture communicates hierarchical political organization and divine revelations of the Luba people. Thus, both the Lukasa and the unknown were used as a memory aid for the Luba
The hand-held wooden-sculpture pictured can be attributed to the Luba people who created the Lukasa (memory board). The memory boards illustrate the political organization and the historical chronicles of the Luba peoples. Lukasa belongs to the Mbudye Society, a council of both men and women who are responsible for interpreting the political values of the Luba state. The Lukasa (memory board) was estimated to be created between the 19th and 20th century in the Democratic Republic of Congo, home of the Luba people. Although many Lukasa use shells and beads studded to the wooden surface, the wood-sculpture pictured has incised designs and carved images in the relief; however, they both still communicate historical …show more content…
Unity is demonstrated through the configuration of the beads or ideograms, representing political events and relationships. The beads all work together to display the political history of the Luba people. Variety is illustrated through the multi-colored beads, carved symbols, and geometric designs. The multitude of contrasting materials used to create this artwork establish a sense of curiosity. Rather than having a flat surface, the Lukasa has many parts to it that make it three-dimensional . It’s form is demonstrated through the oval-shaped pieces protruding in the center of the Lukasa, the cylindrical shapes on the top-left and bottom-right, as well as the studded colored beads which add dimension to the surface of the board. Similar to the Lukasa, the unknown sculpture also displays unity, variety, and form. Unity is exemplified through the many circular and rectangular images extending from the surface of the sculpture. They are placed in a manner that compliment each other, while leaving little negative space, so that the artwork appears complete. Variety is also illustrated through the many different characteristics displayed in the artwork, including circular shapes with faces and diagonal lines on them, as well as patterned rectangular pieces of various sizes. Form is demonstrated through the incised designs and images that are carved in the relief. The incisions …show more content…
The interpretation and reading of the surface was limited to only the elite members of the Mbudye Society, including people who could predict the future (diviners), and those who had extensive religious training. It mainly functions as a memory aid that contains significant historical information regarding the origins of the Luba empire as well as the mappings of the “Spirit Capitals”— palaces which housed the remnants of former kings.
Additionally, the board was read during rituals in which the elite members read the beads by feeling it with their hands, while telling the story of the Luba people. The unknown board would serve the same function because it also possesses carved images that are deciphered by touching the board. Similar to the Lukasa, the unknown sculpture communicates hierarchical political organization and divine revelations of the Luba people. Thus, both the Lukasa and the unknown were used as a memory aid for the Luba