![Mask (Mukenga), Kuba, Western Kasai region, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Art Institute of Chicago, 1982.1504](http://www.ancientartpodcast.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ep77-mukenga-mask-1982.1504-300x242.jpg)
How do artists’ choices of materials assign identity and meaning to works of art? How does meaning assign material? In this excerpt from one of my museum tours, I explore the meaningful materials in an African Congolese ceremonial mask of the Kuba Kingdom. This recording comes complete with all the juicy, unscripted, live-action museum gallery accents including background chatter and beeping proximity alarms.