The brainchild of the Smithsonian Institute and the Fowler Museum at UCLA, Inscribing Meaning: Writing and Graphic Systems in African Art demonstrates the psychological, political, spiritual, healing and historic power and beauty of words and symbols across many mediums in Africa.

The exhibit is wonderfully curated—Inscribing Meaning brings together works of art from a range of periods, regions, genres and peoples and considers the interplay between African art and the communicative power of graphic systems, language, and the written word.

Some personal favorites include works by Tshibumba Kanda-Matulu, Kim Berman and Durant Sihlali, which shed new light unto political dilemmas in Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa. Ali Omar Ermes’ Contradictions of Joy was another favorite of mine-- a gold canvas which explored the rhythmic aspects of language, and the meaning and ecstasy created when the visual, verbal and script are linked. On my way out, a female figure representing a Baule man’s otherworld spouse caught my eye. I felt myself drawn to this poised figure despite different cultural definitions of beauty as shown in her features, pose, coiffure and scarification patterns.

Very exciting, inspiring and eye-opening, I recommend everyone to make a trip to the Fowler before February ’08. It’ll be an amazingly refreshing perspective.