Stylistically this remarkable bronze statue bears
some resemblance to those made by the Baga
Tribe of Guinea. The body is extremely
elongated; while the face, hands and feet are
more zoomorphic than human. However, there is
an expression in the eyes and open lips, which
are very human indeed, and quite powerful. This
combination of human, animal and abstract
elements creates a figure that is singularly 'real'.
As in any true work of art it transcends normal
reality to express its own character, which seems
perfectly acceptable to the viewer because of its
profound sense of equilibrium and balance. The
tubular body and coiled neck leads the eyes
directly to the face; to hear and feel what the
figure has to tell us. Perhaps this statue was
designed as an altarpiece representing a generic
ancestral being. There may be a fertility
connection given the prominent genitals. The
aesthetic power of this statue is equaled by its
elegance, which is due to the sculptor's
considerable skill, and by something mysterious
and indefinable.
- (PF.4806)
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