We learned about Primitive Art throughout our Middle School or High School years, especially in Art class. At that time, every student was urged to memorize the meaning and history of Art without feeling or thinking deeply about it. If you look into your old text books, Primitive Art means a form of Art, in which early civilizations expressed their birth, growth, marriage, death, future life, and the abundance of farm work through artistic creation. Primitive tribes in every location around the world made works of Primitive Art as various as their location of residence and circumstance.
In primitive societies, a tribal ceremony is used for the role of making the tribe united and connecting reality with their future life. They believed that human beings, animals, forests, and even rocks have their own spirit. For that reason, tribes made masks and statues, which are similar to natural objects, and used the masks in the ceremony or festival.
Many people do not know about Primitive Art, and they do not care about it, even though it is a connection between our history and now. Therefore, the Chung-Ang Herald will show you the finest place for Primitive Art. The finest place, where you can see real Primitive Art, is at the Papertainer (museum) in Olympic Park. When you get off at Mongchontosung station, the pink line, you can not miss the Gate of Peace. Just walk through the Gate, go on foot for about 7 minutes, you will find the ticket office, and then you should buy a ticket.
The entrance of the museum is visionary. Speakers gush out African electronic style music, and the lighting is red, which lets the people feel an atmosphere of dreams and phantasms. At the corner of the entrance, there is a tribal statue. If you turn left and walk awhile, a round corridor comes into your sight. The corridor shows us some examples of the artists, who were inspired by Primitive Art. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was stimulated by an expression of African Primitive Art, which is straight and has an original color. He said, “I was infected with an African Primitive Art virus” at the Paris Folk Museum in 1907. He tried to extend his own art from an infinite and original energy of African dance. Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966), Henry Matisse (1869-1954), and Steven Spielberg were also motivated by Primitive Art. Alberto Giacometti presented a man with tall, skinny, and swollen feet. His unique art was inspired by a long stick man style of statue from the Makonde and Nyamwezi tribe in Tanzania. Henry Matisse’s art is a ‘free and intense color of expression’. You can definitely find that his art was motivated by Primitive Art also. Steven Spielberg started his travels to Africa with the thoughts of making an alien figure before he made the movie, ET. He was inspired by a Zaire statue, which has a long neck, bulging belly, and short legs. You will laugh if you look at that statue in the corridor.
In the early 20th century, many western artists got a shock from Primitive and Oriental art, especially, the direct and strong expressions of the masks or statues. These types of Primitive Art were not seen in former western art. The direct effects of these simple, bold lines with strong color, opened possibilities for a brand new Art form for the artists at that time.
If you get out of that corridor, another corridor that is just like a labyrinth is waiting for you. Four continents and twenty-four countries of art work are on display.

Africa Primitive Art which is known as Black Art, is valued by western critics, because it is shocking, grand, and dynamic. For example, the Dogon tribe’s statues are grand and dynamic. The Dogon tribes sculpt them from woods. The Statues show crudeness, but also softness, therefore everyone will find them dynamic with feeling. The Songye tribe’s Nkisi Statue has horns, clothes, feathers, and beads on it; because the Songye tribe believed that the power of magic will be stronger if they attach several things on the statues. If you look at that statue, you can see a long horn with a hole, a smiling face, and metal accessories, thus it is considered a rare item.
After that, North America’s art works are on display. North Americans used masks and statues at religious ceremonies or events. In the case of fabrics, tapestries, fashion goods, or personal items were used at political events.
Latin America’s earthenware and fabrics are very unique. Nevertheless their art works are all splendid and have geometrical patterns. They use the art works at everyday life.
Oceania’s Primitive Art is complex, magnificent, and picturesque. Most art work has complicated patterns, but others are quite simple. This Contrastive aspect was the first with artistic purpose.
South East Asia’s Primitive Art shows various shapes, but techniques of expression are similar to other tribes, because they were all inspired by China and the Vietnam style. You can feel life, death, creation, and myths of the Earth through the statues. In addition, the Buddha head-shaped statue from India’s Calcutta Museum makes spectators pious.
When you pass the jungle-like place and some art works, the presentation of art work will be at its end. If you think it is not enough, do not worry! You can enjoy them more in the Experience Room, where you may draw your own patterns or masks. Also, you can buy cheap books about art.
As time passes, people in every society have applied Primitive Art to Modern Art. The tribes adapted themselves to change their circumstances well, such as political and economical pressure. Fortunately, they extended their Primitive Art well. However, as they started to develop, the Primitive Art was destroyed and disappeared in every part of the world. People should know this critical situation and think about it. Furthermore, students are dying to get some modern stuff these days. Modern things have their own attractions and meanings, but students should know about Primitive Art, which is the foundation of modernism.