Goli Mask Kplekple bla Ivory Coast
H: 43 cm (approx. 1' 5'')
Estimated age: first half of the 20th century
Provenance: Austrian private collection
Common features of Kplekple disc-shaped facemasks include antelope shaped horns, round eyes, a rectangular shaped mouth, and geometric designs. The red face is considered female and the dark/black face is considered male. The Goli masquerading tradition is performed during funerals and/or during times of danger. During the ritual, the mask wearer mediates with supernatural forces, which have a positive influence on the village people. The Goli mask appears in times of transition, like danger, illness, or at a funeral. The Goli helps to establish a connection with supernatural powers that can influence human life in a good or bad way. The Kpleple is one of several masks that appear in the Goli spirit dance. It stands out for its extreme minimalism and simplification of details as well as for the circular face. The horns represent the horns of an antelope. A small Goli mask with perfect proportions, a masterwork of abstraction.