Africa, a thousand lives of objects

The life of 230 artefacts, from their creation to their various uses

The artefacts presented in this exhibition are rich in history, from their creation to their religious or social uses. Statues are often ritual instruments, masks dance on ceremonial occasions and adornments indicate their owners’ status. And then they are sometimes provided with other lives in Africa and beyond. Admired for their aesthetic and heritage qualities, certain artefacts make their way into private and museum collections to become sources of study and inspiration.

The 230 artefacts in this exhibition bear witness to such lives. Originating from Ewa and Yves Develon’s private collection, they have now been entrusted to the Musée des Confluences.

The exhibition route

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Creative artefacts: the art of the sculptor

In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, becoming a sculptor is often a matter of choice and vocation. The craft is learned from a master sculptor. Whether wood, metal, ivory or raffia, the materials used were often found in the natural environment, donated, bought or bartered. evés dans l’environnement, donnés, achetés, troqués.

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Inspirational artefacts

African sculptures rarely depict nature or reality. Instead, they are designed to bring ideas and beliefs to life and to inspire actions. Sculptors draw inspiration from the environment in which they live and work, often combining real or abstract images with human or non-human elements.

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How artefacts are used, from virtue to influence

The way in which the artefact is used determines its status and how it is treated. An ornament can be transformed into an altar piece following the death of its owner; a ceremonial artefact can be considered from an artistic point of view and then become a simple commodity. Complex and ever-changing, its original purpose is often forgotten.

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Collectors’ items: from African culture to European culture

Most African artefacts exported to Europe have found their way into private or public collections. Acquired in Africa from their owners and intermediaries, or from dealers outside Africa, these artefacts, selected for their aesthetic or scientific qualities, often followed complex trajectories, regularly changing hands, status and use. ièrement de mains, de statuts et d’usages.

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Museum artefacts

When artefacts enter the museum, they begin a new stage in their lives: the process of becoming part of our cultural heritage. They are identified, photographed, numbered, studied and restored in order to preserve and protect them. They are then taken out of storage for an exhibition or loaned to another museum, where they are featured in a publication, once again taking us on an imaginative journey of discovery. lors d’une publication et voyagent à nouveau dans les imaginaires.