Tribal art looks to Paris

Article
Established just last year in the Beaux-Arts/Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood, Paris Tribal returns to galleries to celebrate the work of indigenous artists from across the globe. The French capital remains a main hub for the tribal art market, with collections stretching centuries and continents alike, drawing in local and international enthusiasts.
This second edition of the event, running until April 11, combines thematic exhibitions in addition to individual, spectacular pieces, and covers all fields of tribal art from Africa, America, Asia, Indonesia and Oceania across 21 galleries. Exhibited are masks, weapons and jewellery as well as shields, sceptres and reliquary skulls.     

Happening spoke to a few of this year’s participants about their impressions of the event and the works on display.
Galerie Anthony JP Meyer 
Galerie Anthony JP Meyer opened in 1985, and is specialized in South Pacific traditional Fine Art. In 2011, Meyer opened an archaic Eskimo art department, also on show at Paris Tribal. According to Meyer himself, the 2014 edition was an “excellent” and “unpretentious” fair, and he is “extremely positive” about this years event, expecting collectors from the world all-over.

Galerie Ratton
Known to be amongst the best African art traders in the world of primary art, Galerie Ratton exhibits pieces from the Ivory Coast, the Republic of the Congo and Gabon among others for this year’s Paris Tribal. 

Galerie Flak
Having opened 25 years ago, Galerie Flak claims to be “among the founding galleries” of primitive art in Paris, the “primitive art capital”, with tribal art focuses on North America, extending from Alaska to the North West coast. The works are notably colourful, and include a “surrealist objects” selection, ranging from the Malangan figures of New Ireland and the Kachina dolls of the late 19th century to Eskimo masks and figures, and other Polynesian pieces from the Marquesas Islands. The gallery is expecting to welcome primarily North European collectors from the likes of Holland and Belgium.

Entwistle 
At Entwistle, the presentation takes the viewer from 10th-century African art, all the way through to 19th-century traditional works from Oceania like New Guinea and Vanuatu. With each wall spanning the continents from West to East, there is always a blend of cultures on display, never thematic exhibitions. Their second year participating at Paris Tribal, Entwistle “try to be didactic” in their approach, presenting a thorough range of tribal pieces.       
 
HAPPENING
SONGYE fetish mask made of wood, horn, metal, fabric, fur, pearls and reptile skin/TSANGHI mask made of wood