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''Colon'' statues, a term derived from the French ''statues colon'' ("colon" is the French noun for a colonist), are a genre of wooden figurative
La fabrication des colons
at African-Concept African sculpture West African culture History of European colonialism Figurines
''Colon'' statues, a term derived from the French ''statues colon'' ("colon" is the French noun for a colonist), are a genre of wooden figurative sculpture
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
within African art
African art encompasses modern and historical paintings, sculptures, installations, and other visual cultures originating from indigenous African diaspora, African communities across the African continent. The definition may also include the ar ...
which originated during the colonial period. The statues commonly depict European colonial officials such as civil servants, doctors, soldiers or technicians or Europeanised middle-class Africans. They are often characterised by recurrent decorative motifs, such as pith helmets, suits, official uniforms or tobacco pipes, and are painted in bright or glossy colours with vegetable-based paints.
As a genre, ''colon'' statues originated in West Africa
West Africa, also known as Western Africa, is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations geoscheme for Africa#Western Africa, United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Gha ...
, apparently among the Baoulé in Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast, also known as CĂ´te d'Ivoire and officially the Republic of CĂ´te d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest List of ci ...
. It achieved international popularity after World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and after decolonisation. It has been argued that the genre originated as an African response to colonisation and the repression at the hands of the colonial state. It is debated whether the statues were originally seen as satirical caricatures of colonial officials or simply depictions of new subjects in local styles. Whether the original statues were intended to be purely ornamental or also served a ritual
A ritual is a repeated, structured sequence of actions or behaviors that alters the internal or external state of an individual, group, or environment, regardless of conscious understanding, emotional context, or symbolic meaning. Traditionally ...
function is also debated by anthropologists.
Among the notable artists who worked in the style was the Nigerian Thomas Ona Odulate (1900-50) whose works are widely exhibited in museums in the United States and Europe.
Today, ''colon'' statues are widely produced as tourist souvenirs in West and Central Africa.
References
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La fabrication des colons
at African-Concept African sculpture West African culture History of European colonialism Figurines