READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20minutes on Questions 14-27, which are based on Reading Passage 2below.
SCULPTURE
A. Sculpture, the practice of creatinga three-dimensional object for artistic and aesthetic purposes, dates back asfar as prehistoric times. Since objects created are intended to be enduring,traditionally sculptures have been forged from durable materials such asbronze, stone, marble and jade; however, some branches of the art alsospecialise in creating figurines of a more ephemeral nature, ice sculpture, forexample. The practice of sculpting in many countries has traditionally beenassociated with religious philosophy; for example, in Asia many famoussculptures are related to Hinduism or Buddhism.
B. In Africa, perhaps more than anyother region in the world, three-dimensional artwork is favoured and given moreemphasis than two dimensional paintings. Whilst some experts hold that the artof sculpture in the continent dates back to the Nokcivilisation of Nigeria in500 BC, this is disputed due to evidence of the art’s existence in PharaonicAfrica.
C. To the expert eye, African art isclearly defined by the region from which it is from and easily identifiablefrom the differences in technique used and material from which it is made.Figurines from the West African region are sculpted in two distinctly differentforms. The first is characterised by angular forms and features with elongatedbodies, such sculptures being traditionally used in religious rituals.Conversely, the traditional wood statues of the Mande speaking culture possesscylindrical arms and legs with broad, flat surfaces. Metal sculptures whichhail from the eastern regions of West Africa, are heralded by many as amongstthe most superior art forms ever crafted.
D. Central African sculpture may be alittle more difficult to identify for the novice observer as a wider variety ofmaterials may be used, ranging from wood to ivory, stone or metal. However,despite tills, the distinct style of usage of smooth lines and circular formsstill helps to define the origin of such works. In both Eastern and SouthernAfrica, typically, art depicts a mixture of human and animal features. Art fromthe former region Is usually created in the form of a pole carved in humanshape and topped with a human or animal image which has a strong connectionwith death, burial and the spiritual world. Such creations are less recognisedas art in the traditional sense than those from other parts of Africa. InSouthern Africa, the human/animal hybrid representations are fashioned fromclay, the oldest known examples dating back to from between 400 and 600 A.D.
E. Although these distinct and definingregional differences in artistic expression exist, there are also universalsimilarities which define African art as a whole. Primarily a commoncharacteristic is that focus is predominantly on representation of the humanform. A second common trait of African art is that it is often inspired by aceremonial or performance-related purpose; the meaning behind the art and itspurpose often intended to be interpreted in a different way depending on anindividual’s age, gender or even social and educational status.
F. Throughout the African continent,artworks tend to be more abstract in nature than intending to present arealistic and naturalistic portrayal of the subject in question. Artists suchas Picasso, Van Gogh and Gauguin are said to have been influenced and inspiredby African art. Its ability to stimulate emotional reaction and imaginationgenerated a great deal of interest from western artists at the beginning of the20th century. As a result, new European works began to emerge which were of amore abstract nature than previously conceived. More intellectually and emotionallystimulating art was born than had been seen before in a culture which hadtraditionally faithfully represented and depicted the true and exact form ofits subjects.
G. The 'Modernism’ movement of the 20thcentury embraced innovation in literature and art, its devotees wishing to movebeyond realism in artistic expression. The sculptor Henry Spencer Moore, bornin 1898 in Yorkshire, was one of the key players involved in introducing anddeveloping his own particular style of modernism to the British art world. Heis best known for his abstract bronze sculptures of the human form, manycritics drawing parallels between the undulating landscapes and hills of hishome county Yorkshire and the shapes and lines of his sculptures.
H. By the 1950s, Moore’s work wasincreasingly in demand and he began to secure high profile commissionsincluding an artwork for the UNESCO building in Paris. By the end of Moore’scareer, due to his popularity and the scale of the projects he undertook, thesculptor was extremely affluent; however, a huge proportion of his wealth wasdonated to the Henry Moore Foundation established with the aim of supportingeducation and promotion of the arts. The foundation is a registered charity andhas continued to offer funding to a wide range of projects including grants toarts institutions and bursaries and fellowships for students and artists sinceMoore’s death in 1986.
SECTION 2: QUESTIONS 14-27
Questions 14 –17
Complete the summary
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers inboxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.
In Africa, sculpture is morepredominant and more highly 14 ________________ thancanvas art, for example.
In Asia, many prestigious worksare connected to 15 ________________ values.
Sculpture is an ancient art inwhich figurines are created from materials which are, in the main, 16 ________________ to ensure longevity of the artform; however, though more 17 ________________ ,materials such as ice are used in certain spheres.
Questions 18-22
Complete the table
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers inboxes 18-22 on your answer sheet.
REGIONAL AFRICAN ART
Region
Style
Additional Information
Eastern Africa
Subjects similar to the 18 ________________ area of the country.
Less sought-after than other styles of African art.
Southern Africa
Artwork representing human & animal form
Made from 19________________
Western
Africa
Style 1
Sharp lines, long bodies
Conventionally made for the purpose of 20________________
Style 2
Cylindrical, broad and flat lines crafted from 21 ________________
Made by Mande speakers
Central Africa
Smooth lines & circular forms
Often more difficult to recognise due to the diversity of 22 ________________ used.
Questions 23-27
Answer the questions belowusing NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers inboxes 23-27 on your answer sheet.
Verification of art in whichcivilisation sheds doubt on the theory that African art dates back to the Nokperiod?
23 ________________
What material is used for theAfrican sculptures many consider to be the best?
24 ________________
What ceremonial event are thecreations from Eastern Africa connected with?
25 ________________
Due to African influence, whatdid Western art become that allowed it to be more intellectually andemotionally stimulating?
26 ________________
What did Moore most oftendepict which brought him the greatest recognition?
27 ________________
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