The title of this exhibition could easily have been Masterpieces of African Art, if the term masterpiece had not been inflated by excessive inappropriate use. Yet many of the works from the Horstmann Collection chosen for the Mendrisio exhibition are undoubtedly masterpieces, as these works illustrate to perfection the creative talents which the world now recognises in these African sculptors from a bygone age. It is worth remembering that almost all the early 20th century European avant-garde artists were inspired by the Africans' extraordinary power and synthesis of expression, such as Picasso, Matisse, Braque, Nolde, Kirchner, Léger, Giacometti, Moore and many others. In fact, African sculpture was decisive in bringing about the turning-point in western art in the early 20th century.
 
Works of art created by African artists in the past, therefore referred to as ìtraditionalî works, are evidence of a world that has disappeared, or is in the process of disappearing. Until about forty years ago, these sculptures - the most representative forms of creativity from that world - despite their impact on European art - were generally considered ethnographical material, thus little attention was paid to their formal qualities.

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