BWA Duho Hawk Mask, 175 cm Wingspan — Horizontal with Geometric Polychrome (Burkina Faso, 1st half 20th cent, wood)
This incredibly wide, horizontal wooden plank mask spans 175 cm, featuring a central, projecting, beak-like hook flanked by two massive, swept-back wings. The entire upper surface is heavily incised and painted with a complex matrix of white, black, and red geometric triangles, target motifs, and checkerboards.
1. Aesthetic style — aerodynamic abstraction and the duho
Contrasting with the towering verticality of the Bansonyi, this is a canonical Bwa Duho (hawk or butterfly) mask, representing the ultimate mastery of horizontal space. The carver has achieved a perfectly balanced, aerodynamic wingspan. The massive, flat planes are entirely devoted to showcasing the Bwa graphic vocabulary. The mesmerizing target motifs (representing the all-seeing eyes of the spirit or the sacred village wells) and the dense fields of interlocking triangles create a dizzying, high-contrast visual vibration. This is a supreme example of sculpture functioning as a kinetic canvas for complex moral iconography.
2. Ritual function — swirling performance and the avian spirit
The Duho mask is one of the most physically demanding masks to perform in the Do association's repertoire. The dancer holds the central bite-stick and spins rapidly in tight circles. The massive, 175 cm wingspan blurs into a swirling vortex of high-contrast geometry, creating a profound optical illusion that visually dissolves the human performer and entirely manifests the swift, erratic flight of a hawk or a massive butterfly. This erratic, sweeping flight is believed to physically and spiritually cleanse the village square of disease and invisible, malevolent forces.
3. Physical patina — kinetic impact wear and matte polychromy
The physical aging of this massive horizontal mask tells the story of its use. Because the mask is spun so close to the ground, the very tips of the wings exhibit characteristic, soft blunting and abrasion from striking the earth during performance. The deeply incised geometric patterns retain their original, natural earth pigments, which have lost all moisture over the decades, resulting in a beautiful, dry, chalky, and matte surface. The central attachment point on the reverse is deeply darkened by the dancer's sweat, confirming its early 20th-century historical deployment.
Summary
A sprawling, kinetic canvas of Voltaic morality, this Bwa Duho mask captures the terrifying, swift flight of the bush spirit through brilliant, horizontal abstraction. Its dizzying geometric incisions and authentic, earth-worn patina make it a highly desirable masterpiece of West African masquerade.
