Shrine Figure
Akpojivi of Orhokpokpo
Description
March 28, 2009
This figure represents Ohahe, the spirit of the silk cotton tree, and her countenance manifests a recurring tension in Urhobo aesthetics: she is “fearsome to mortals, yet beautiful to the spirits.” Scarification patterns identify her lineage, while her tufted coiffure resembles those of high-ranking women. Her head and face were sculpted by the master carver Akpojivi, while an apprentice carved the rest of the figure—a common practice among Urhobo master artists.
The Urhobo carved figures like this to commemorate the edjo, spiritual forces that pervade the natural world and embody a community’s founding ancestors. Every Urhobo community had its own edjo installed in a small and darkened shrine house maintained by the town’s spiritual leaders. A life-sized example of such statuary is extremely rare in African art.
Subject Matter:
The Urhobo carved life-sized figures to commemorate the edjo – spiritual forces that pervade the natural world and embody a community’s founding ancestors. Every Urhobo community had its own edjo installed in a small shrine house that was maintained by the town’s spiritual leaders. These shrine houses were darkened to keep the figure hidden from view for all but a few days a year, when large festivals were organized in its honor. Shrine figures could be installed in pairs of male and female, which together manifested the martial power and fecundity of the spirits. These figures embody a classic tension in Urhobo aesthetics – they are fearsome to humans, but beautiful to the spirits.
Physical Description:
Life-sized seated female figure holding a child. Face has rounded, high forehead, ovoid eyes, flat, rectangular nose and protruding, open ovoid mouth. Pigmented, bilateral scarification patterns of forehead, temples and jowls, at back of neck. Scarification also on upper arms and breast. Pigmented coiffure is elaborate with triangular and dome-like shapes. Necklace and hoop-like ring carved in relief onto neck and shoulders; figure has protruding navel, wears anklets and armlet at elbow, and holds a baby suckling at left breast.
Usage Rights:
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