The surface shiny or smooth surface of the African masks exists to establish purification and connection with sacred entities, and the artwork are produces with extreme care. Masks are the most well-known forms of African plastic. They are a synthesis of more varied symbolic elements, becoming expressions of the African creative will.
In sculptures, the presence of the human figure identifies concern for ethnic, moral, and religious values. Sculpture is an art form widely used by African artists using gold, bronze, and ivory as a raw material. It incorporate spirits and the possibility of acquiring magical forces, with a mystical and important significance in African art being used in rituals and funerals.
Conceptual art is art where the artist focuses on the concept behind the art and not the object itself. For example, in 1971 Yoko Ono did an exhibition in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York with no art objects. When people arrived, they received a note that said "This Is Not Here". The art exhibition was conceptual.
