Whirl With Merle

Traditional African Art, yes—but ordinary, no. A broad, dramatic and exciting vision of African art will be presented in the exhibit, Traditional African Art: The Liren Wei Collection, opening at the QCC Art Gallery on October 18.  The objects that will be featured in this show originate from areas as geographically diverse as the West African savanna and the forests of the Congo Basin.

Large, poly-chromed Bozo puppets depict whimsical antelopes, crocodiles and people. Delicate sculptures are made from wood, metals, stone and ivory; and are adorned with horns, beads, shells, terracotta, cloth, feathers, quills, fibers, leaves and roots. Some objects, such as the ancient Bamana Komo and Kono masks convey themes of sacrifice central to the rituals of secret initiation societies for men.

 “The complexity of the objects in this dynamic exhibit carry forth a long tradition in African art of the display importance of sculptures and masks,” said Faustino Quintanilla, Executive Director of the QCC Art Gallery. “Stylized physical forms such as these convey clear social messages to audiences during public performances.”

Liren Wei, a long-time friend of the QCC Art Gallery and curator of this exhibit, has amassed a collection of African art. He is also a collector of Chinese antiquities from various dynasties, as well as contemporary art, sculpture and paintings. He expressed his passion for art and praised the Gallery for “the high caliber of its exhibits and permanent collections that can only be paralleled by larger institutions outside of Queens.”

He described meeting students through the years whose passion for the fine arts is contagious. “They remind me of my first love for art that began when I was a young boy.”

Liren Wei will be talking with us.