The Arts of Africa at the Dallas Museum of Art by Roslyn Adele Walker, hardback published by Yale Press. ISBN 978-0-3001-3895-5, price 55.00 from www.yalebooks.co.uk
This is one of my favourite books of the year so far. It’s incredibly beautiful, full of excellent colour plates of African art. It depicts 120 artefacts from the Dallas Museum, religious and social artefacts including sculptures, carvings and beads inspired by symbols of leadership and status to portray the cycle of life including afterlife and decorative qualities. The text puts African art into context. I was most interested in the decorative arts section, which includes a fragment of a carved door shutter, a door lock,a door, tent posts, commemorative rice bowls and much more including some textiles. The whole book brings African art to life. It is superb.