88 - Figure

Figure with legs sculpted by cascading joints Wood, original brown patina, localized erosion on the lower section, signs of wear Mumuye, Nigeria 73 x 11 cm This figure captivates with the freedom with which it reimagines the human body. At the top of a long neck, the small, crested head is framed by wide side flaps. The arms, detached from the torso, create a play of solids and voids around the slender torso. The legs, marked by a series of notches, appear to bend in a cascading motion, giving the silhouette a unique rhythm. The Mumuye people live south of the Bénoué River, in northeastern Nigeria. Their statues served multiple, often overlapping functions: diviners and healers used them; they welcomed the clients of rainmakers; they guarded the home; and they served as confidants to their owners. They were also consulted during trials to test the sincerity of statements. This connection to both human and supernatural authority undoubtedly sheds light on the power of their abstraction. General Bibliography: Marla C. Berns, Richard Fardon, and Sidney Littlefield Kasfir (eds.), *Central Nigeria Unmasked: Arts of the Benue River Valley*, Los Angeles, Fowler Museum at UCLA, 2011.