![]() Yates emphasized how many of these masks appear to be connected with the Do Society they are worn in funerary rituals for important members. ![]() The red mask, Bobo Mask, is vertical and has a plantlike structure springing from the top of a human or animal head this kind of mask is found across a wide belt of sub-Saharan savanna region, from Mali and Upper Volta down into the northern Ivory Coast and Ghana areas. This scarification is part of their identity, taking viewers back over hundreds of years to their cultural ancestors. It’s called Cihongo Mask and is inspired by the Tshokwe Ciwandawanda in Zaire. He pointed out to SQNews a brown, eared mask with scarification on its forehead that represents the ancestral religion. He believes that most of the essential information is lost or is stored in museums and publications.Īs an artist he is dedicated to drawing the attention of his audience and to designing different styles of masks, giving them their unique identity. He explained the symbolism of these elaborate masks or sculptures that the ancestors made and possessed, and how he fabricates his own pieces. In prison, Yates has used canvas as his medium. “I am able to capture this diverse ethnic art and share it through my drawings.”Īccording to the artist, the vast majority of African art is wooden sculptures and masks. “I enjoy the art because it connects me with my historical and ancestral attachment,” said Yates. His style is based on the idea that this kind of art is not being promoted or displayed, compared to other arts across the globe. ![]() The artist shared with SQNews that it took him about three days to complete this project. Yates also included two black hands in the “hands up!” position, in reference to what is going on across the world.įinally, this canvas has a scarification representing the Batshioko tribe, in Zaire. Painting gives him a voice and through it he tries to bring new generations an awareness of the importance of the African roots and tribal culture he thinks are rarely recognized in comparison to his school years.Īt the bottom is the All Seeing Eye. “Red is for the blood we shed, black is for the Black people, and green is for the land they took from our ancestors,” said Yates. In the middle of the painting, Yates sketched out a map of the African continent, giving it the national colors. In the same picture, he portrays other items such a sword named Goldsword Hilt, which comes from Ghana, Africa. Clockwise to the right, he points out a red tribal mask and describes how these ancestors were head hunters they came from Bakuba, Zaire, on the continent of Africa. He told SQNews about one canvas on which he painted multiple figurines, each with a different meaning.Īt the top is an All Seeing Eye, which means that God is watching over us. The artist’s creativity goes beyond subtitles or names. Yates points out that when you know about your past, you will know what your future is going to be. He named this bird Sam Kofa Bird, which symbolizes learning from experience, referring back to what the bird know about its past. “I just get a pleasure (out) of exposing this art to people who may never saw it,” said Yates, referring to a bird sitting on a stand and looking back, while reflecting on his experiences. Some may dismiss this as misguided attention to an extinct culture - but not Yates, who refuses to let this hidden treasure vanish. Reginald Yates enjoys creating art that introduces people to new concepts and ideas, especially relating to African cultural history. Multiple faces and figures on the canvas, topped by the All-Seeing Eye, expresses the omniscience of God Reginald Yates enjoys creating art that introduces people to new concepts and ideas, especially relating to African cultural history. “Sam Kofa Bird” represents learning from past experiences. San Quentin resident Reginald Yates embraces his ancestral roots by reviving some of the old traits of African tribal art.
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