West African Sculpture Exhibition London
When
04 March 2010 -
04 July 2010
10am - 5.30pm, until 8.30pm Thur & Fri
Where
British Museum
Cost
£8.00
Age Restrictions
n/a
A West African sculpture exhibition London event takes place during 2010 as several pieces of art from the region make their debut in the UK. Brass, copper, stone and terracotta sculptures from West Africa are all on show at the Kingdom of Ife exhibition until the beginning of June at British Museum.
West African sculpture exhibition
London is the honoured recipient of loans from Nigeria to make up this stunning exhibition, which features spiritual, cultural and political themes in its work. Showcasing their beautiful and naturalistic style, these sculptures will be of great interest to anyone who loves African art or is fascinated by historical sculpture.
Kingdom of Ife
The Kingdom of Ife, which is now south west Nigeria, was a hugely influential part of Africa in the 12th - 15th centuries and consequently had a rich and flourishly art base. With trade links to many important cities around the world, the cultural development of their people can be seen in the growing natural style of the figures on show in the West African sculpture exhibition, and the sophistication of the techniques used to create them.
Society on show
One of the most fascinating elements of the West African sculpture exhibition at British Museum is the variety of different styles and social statuses represented in the exhibits. From youth to old age, beauty to deformity, and poverty to wealth, a huge cross section of society from Ife is depicted, creating a unique portrayal of life in the Kingdom at the time. Some figureheads even represent royalty, with the copper head of King Obalufon II taking centre stage.
Tribal links
Other pieces the Kingdom of Ife collection include a selection of heads that could well have been created for a royal occassion such as a coronation. The heads are all uniformly designed, each with subtle but varying characteristics such as jewellery or high class headwear. Others on show at the West African sculpture exhibition bear tribal scars, associated with important rituals or cultural ceremonies.
Sacred Kingdom
The Kingdom of Ife was believed to be the centre of the creation of the world and as such held many sacred groves. These groves were located in the forests and held many sculptures of humans and animals, and were often highly decorated. Several of these scared grove pieces are included in the West African sculpture exhibition, with a terracotta elephant and hippo head adorned with beads being two notable inclusions.
The West African sculpture exhibition London event, the Kingdom of Ife takes place from 10am - 5.30pm, Thursday 4th March - Sunday 4th July 2010 at British Museum.
Tickets are £8.00, or £7.00 for concessions. For more information on this event or to book tickets, click on the link below.
British Museum Official Website
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Other Events at British Museum
From Jun 1, Mon-Thu, Sat & Sun 10am-5.20pm, Fri 10am-8.20pm, ends Jul 1
From Jun 1, Mon-Thu, Sat & Sun 10am-5.20pm, Fri 10am-8.20pm, ends Sep 9
From May 3, Mon-Thu, Sat & Sun 10am-5.30pm, Fri 10am-8.30pm, ends Sep 2
19 July 2012 - 25 November 2012
10 May 2012 - 25 November 2012
08 July 2011 - 06 July 2012
Mon-Sun 10am-5.30pm, closed Dec 24-26, Jan 1
Mon-Wed, Sat & Sun 9am-5.30pm, Thu & Fri 9am-8.30pm, closed Dec 24-26, Jan 1
What's near British Museum?
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The Box
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Luxx
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Covert
65 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, London, SE1 7TP
Content updated: 02/06/2012 06:45