Synopsis
BLACK MARKET’S MASQUERADE is a journey of discovery to the museums next door, to the most beautiful crafts and cult objects, to the mysterious fetishes and masks – the art of our neighbouring continent. We encounter the seemingly 'primitive' art objects from Africa in fancy vitrines of the galleries, in crammed private apartments of passionate collectors and on dusty storage racks of ethnological museums. The collectors have always been tempted by the unusual otherness of the cult objects. In addition the foreign and spiritual aspect of the works enriches the Europeans, serving as a source of inspiration. The art market converts eccentric collectors into speculating rich men. The market for traditional African art is flourishing across the globe. In the past months single objects have been auctioned off for millions. Though ancient African art as an investment is a new development.
The film follows the tracks from the poorest carvers in West Africa to the posh trade fair for gallery owners in Brussels and to Paris, where the prices for the art market are made. Nowadays history conscious Africans accuse museum directors of ’art robbery‘.
