Divine Artisans

I had an opportunity this past week to view the exhibit, Dynasty and Divinity: Ife Art in Ancient Nigeria. This exhibit just opened at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. A lot has been written about these unique findings of cast-metal portrait heads in Ife, Nigeria. The exhibit contains over one hundred objects in metal, stone and terra-cotta. This remarkable exhibition has its only Midwestern stop at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Viewing this exhibit is like taking a class in art history with emphasis on Ife metal arts and sculpture from the 12th – 15th centuries. The images the royalty of the Yoruba people are captured in cast copper- alloy and terra-cotta heads and figures. The heads are life-size and the metal casting technology is thought to be very advanced for the time period. All of the Ife copper-alloy sculptures were made by a process known as lost-wax casting. Some of the small objects included in this exhibit have never been shown outside of Nigeria.

I did a quick walk through of the exhibit with a hand-held guide. There is a lot to see and a lot to learn about Ife art. I allowed an hour to view this exhibit and I did not have enough time. There is a catalog that accompanies the show and it beautifully illustrates many of the objects.

I plan to view the exhibit again perhaps with a docent guide before it leaves. This exhibition will be at the IMA through January 16, 2012. If you are in the area, and want to view the wonderful art objects of West Africa, you may want to make a special trip to the museum to view this landmark exhibition.


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