The Inner Eye: Vision and Transcendence in African Arts

The Inner Eye: Vision and Transcendence in African Arts features 100 outstanding sculptures and eye-catching textiles that explore how the arts and their visual regimes enable transitions from one stage of life to the next and from one state of being to another. 

Works reflect culturally specific notions of visuality and celebrate artists as agents of insight and transformation. Iconic figures, masks, initiation objects, and reliquary guardians guide people to spirit realms, to the highest levels of esoteric wisdom, and to the afterlife. Many works possess downcast eyes of contemplation and spiritual reverence, while others depict piercing projections of power and protection, or a multiplicity of eyes for heightened vigilance and awareness. 

The exhibition addresses various ways of seeing and encourages viewers to notice how works were made to look upon, gaze within, and see beyond ordinary limitations.

Exhibition overview from museum website