This marvelous sculpture is carved from an
elephant femur, carefully following the natural
shape of the bone. It comes from the Yoruba
tribe of Western Nigeria which associates
elephants with nature and has a complex
concept of art. Yoruba concept of art entails
skillful manipulation of media, the decoration,
design, or embellishment of form, innovation,
improvisation, completeness, appropriateness,
insight, design consciousness, aliveness, and
durability among others. The sculpture carved of
elephant femur embodies these ideas that make
Yoruba art great. It depicts a man sitting on a
throne-like seat around which snakes are
wrapped in an X-shape. The bottom of the seat,
the larger side of the bone, reveals three faces
carved to fit the shape of the bone's curves. The
man's face shows geometric scarfication and he
wears a beaded necklace. And a monkey with a
cheerful face stands on top of the distinguished
man. The monkey symbolizes wisdom and
knowledge, the seated man is perhaps a
wiseman or a distinguished elder of the tribe.
People of Yoruba have the greatest respect for
their elders and they often created sculptures of
their elders. It is amazing how an artist employed
all of the crucial concepts of Yoruba art:
successful use of the bone, creative decoration
of the form, improvising the sculpture to fit the
bone shape, insight of wisdom of the elder,
aliveness of the cheerful monkey, and durability
of the elephant's bone. With these ideas
achieved, the visual and symbolic beauty of the
sculpture becomes complete in one work of art.
When we look at this sculpture, we are
experiencing the whole of Yoruba culture and
art.
- (PF.3071)
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