Recent archaeological discoveries provide strong evidence that Africa is the continent where art began. Out of its many dozens of rock art traditions, the San (or Bushmen) rock art paintings of southern Africa is perhaps the best known, and is featured in this iLecture film.
In terms of artistry, both in its rock engraved and rock painted forms, San rock art is amongst the world’s finest. Some of its images have details only the width of a hair and its delicate shaded colours fade seamlessly from white through pink to dark red. Particularly fine examples of San rock paintings can be found at the site known as Game Pass Shelter in the Drakensberg mountains of South Africa.
The film attempts to reveal one of the most complex and sophisticated of all the world’s symbolic arts. Far from a general view of life, the art focuses on a particular part of San experience: the spirit world journeys and experiences of San shamans.
