Art and Design A comprehensive guide for creative artists - Aaltodoc

Several examples of geometric patterns on objects of art
can be found in Songee's (1993, 50-51) Materials and culture
of Kenya. He lists “tools, containers and body wear” made by
various tribal groups of Kenya.
Here are some of them:
• The naksi patterns—are nine in small spaces,
delicately carved with a sharp knife on a club. Such
patterns are also made on furniture and houses.
• The Barona eating bowl; on its surface, the
container reveals carvings of geometric—“circular
shapes” relating to the shape of the bowl.
• A milk container used by the Turkana. Its mouth
is made of leather that is skilfully joined on the
wood, with the joints stitched by fine palm-leaf.
They show strips of beautiful pattern in triangles
and lines.
• Another one is “the stelab”—carefully dressed in a
red leather sheath, from the Northern Kenya. It is a
Somali sword decorated with patterns of crosses.
The patterns are also used to mark animals by
clans.
We can also add more to this as a conclusion by
reconsidering basic geometric shapes throughout the
course of teaching art—and also regard the effect of
recycling with the demands of specified learning objectives
for art and design projects. Harney (2004, 123) explains, “The
growing popularity of recycling has brought with it new
aesthetic discourses and paradoxically, has opened new
spaces.”
Fashion and art
Fashions and art, side by side with African art is broad.
In the meantime, there are many tribal groups of African
people who have not yet discovered the needs of popular
trends; to dressing up—wearing clothes or fabrics to cover
their bodies. Instead, they wear improvised ornamental
objects in styles of their own particular meanings. Or they
are “generally naked.” (Silvester 2009, 3)
On the other hand, some of the most admired African
fashions, decorations and patterns—such as those made
by weaving techniques have their traditional patterns
revealing a series of geometric motifs.
Also, some groups of African tribal people wear colourful
fabrics that are treated with natural dyes. The designs
created on fabric surfaces reveal intricate patterns
and designs. A mix and match of heavy jewellery
is also worn to pronounce status and for
different fashions as being worthy of attention.
Somjee (1993, 11) reminds us, “a traditional married
Tugen woman wears ... a beautiful skirt with many strings
until the time that she becomes a widow. It is a symbol of
her marriage and it is as important as a ring in a Christian
marriage.”
In Eastern Africa, elderly men wear kanzu cloth (similar to
an Arabic tunic) for informal occasions such as cultural
rituals, ceremonies and worships. Similarly, on the Kenya
coastal province of Bajumwali and among the Baganda
tribe of Uganda, the “male wear a coat or a jibau, over a
kanzu—in similar fashion with the European design of a
coat.'' Somjee (1993, 17) notes
Other tribal groups of African people like the Mursi of Omo
valley in southern Ethiopia cut and pierce their bodies;
particularly the face for facial markings. Others use a lip
plate as a sign of beauty. In the words of Silvester (2009,
4), “they can take any material from the plant world—leaf,
stem, flower, grass, roots—and instantly transform it into
an accessory that has come straight from a fantasy of fairy
tale, for them nature provides an infinite wardrobe.” In an
indistinguishable way, various creative fashion wears have
also been replicated by artists and fashion designers who
develop and create new styles of clothing and fashion
accessories of today.
Otiso (2006, 76) laments, the “traditional Ugandan dress was
made from readily available materials such as tree leaves,
grass, bark cloth as well as livestock and wild life skins.”
Coincidentally, such practices were tribal gestures of beauty.
They disclose art of traditional communities in dignified
fashions.
Among the Borana tribe originating from Southern Ethiopia
to the South Northern areas of Kenya, they put-on body
covers consideration their climate. They are nomadic
pastoral people who use “the baddo, a hand woven cotton
cloth. It is rectangular—made of two pieces of cloth
stitched together ... like two bed covers.” (Somjee 1993, 14)
A man
dressed in a
traditional
wear of a
kanzu
14 15