The Heart of Darkness of course, refers to a novel by Joseph Conrad, published over a hundred years ago, set in the darkness of the Congo. It was considered a significant piece of literary work, although it was later criticised for dehumanising Africans – one must consider that it was a product of its time. Still, the idea that the Congo is a dark and mysterious place persists in popular culture today, and the Congo River: Arts of Central Africa exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum simultaneously peels back and reinforces the mystique of the African jungle.

jusedeananas from The Longue Durée provides a take on the exhibition:

Congo River: Arts of Central Africa presents a smattering of artifacts from various ethnic groups inhabiting the Lower Congo delta region, chiefly in what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo (ex-Zaire) and Gabon. The near-abstract, alien-like visages reminded me once again of how irresistible African art can be – and how utterly remote. In a new millennium of mass media, the world wide web, global travel, and universal connectivity in general, the life of the Dark Continent can still seem as incomprehensible and unnerving as it did to Joseph Conrad more than a century ago. Standing by a display of reliquary figures of the Bembe people (below), conversation between CC and I drifted to Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and its sinister vision of Africa – so far removed, say, from the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels of Alexander McCall Smith, with their gentle imagination and cast of good-natured, fallible characters.

Check out the full review here. Congo River: Arts of Central Africa is a special exhibition on at the Asian Civilisations Museum until April 10.