Being object, being art

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Cultures enrich the world through their uniqueness and variety, reflected in the ethnographic collections from Africa, the Americas, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and East Asia at the Museum of World Cultures in Frankfurt am Main. This volume showcases 130 exceptional works selected from approximately 67,000 objects in the museum’s collection, accompanied by striking photographs. The authors present unusual 'ethnographica,' everyday objects, and ritual items, emphasizing their artistic qualities while situating them within their ethnological contexts. By focusing on indigenous aesthetics and creative processes, the authors aim to shift Western viewers’ perceptions of these objects as mere artifacts. They explore the environments that influenced the creation of these works, considering aspects like color, form, symmetry, and balance. The goal is to highlight what makes these pieces exceptional, whether they are elaborate, imperfect, harmonious, or disturbing. The significance of an object evolves with its viewers and owners, suggesting that its impact can only be understood through an analysis of aesthetic ideas and viewer knowledge. This work illustrates the authors' commitment to presenting non-Western art, challenging the dichotomy of "art or context" with a nuanced perspective of "…as well as…."