GACE 726 High-Yield Study Guide: African and Asian Art

A collection of high-yield vocabulary terms and key concepts covering African and Asian art history, artists, and philosophies for the GACE 726 exam.

Functionalism (African Art)

A core principle stating that African art is created for a specific purpose within society—such as a ritual or communal role—rather than being purely decorative.

African Masks

Stylized, geometric ritual objects primarily made from carved wood used in ceremonies and dances to connect the living with spirits or ancestors.

Benin Bronzes

Detailed brass and bronze castings/plaques created by the Edo People of Nigeria that functioned as court art representing royal history and power.

Nok Terracotta

One of the earliest known African sculpture traditions from Nigeria, featuring fired clay heads with large, pierced eyes and refined features.

Kente Cloth

A traditional woven textile from Ghana characterized by bright, vibrant geometric patterns where specific colors symbolize social status and proverbs.

El Anatsui

A Ghanaian artist (b. $1944$) known for large-scale installations made from recycled bottle caps and metal scrap that resemble metallic fabric.

Kehinde Wiley

A contemporary American artist (b. $1977$) who paints modern subjects in classical, heroic poses against dense floral backgrounds to focus on identity and power.

The Great Wave

An $1831$ ukiyo-e woodblock print by Hokusai featuring a powerful blue wave and Mount Fuji, characterized by strong lines and flat color.

Travelers Among Mountains and Streams

A Song Dynasty landscape painting by Fan Kuan (c. $1020$) using brush and ink to show humans as minuscule figures within vast nature, rooted in Daoism.

Chinese Calligraphy

A form of "high art" practiced during the Gin Dynasty (c. $1000\text{ BCE} - 200\text{ CE}$) using brush and ink to express rhythm, energy ($Qi$), and discipline.

Terracotta Army

Thousands of life-size clay warriors created around $210\text{ BCE}$ for the tomb of the first Chinese emperor to provide protection and symbolize imperial power.

Mudras

Specific hand gestures used in Buddha statues to communicate specific teachings, spiritual states of being, or balanced forms.

Yayoi Kusama

A contemporary Japanese artist (b. $1929$) characterized by the use of dots, repetition, and immersive "infinity rooms" to explore obsession and the self.

$$Qi$$

The concept of rhythm or energy expressed through bold brushstrokes in Chinese Calligraphy.

Ukiyo-e

A Japanese art form of woodblock printing, such as "The Great Wave," known for its use of strong lines and flat areas of color.

Modernism Influence

The historical legacy where African art provided a significant influence on Modernist artists, including Pablo Picasso.

Asian Art Conceptual Framework

A philosophical approach emphasizing harmony with nature, discipline in brushwork, and the use of empty or negative space.