African Nkisi Nkondi Power Figure - Meaningful Materials (78)

ancientartpodcast.org/78

How do artists' choices of materials assign identity and meaning to works of art? How does meaning assign material? In this excerpt from one of my museum tours, I explore the meaningful materials in a Nkisi Nkondi Power Figure of the Vili people in central Africa. This recording comes complete with all the juicy, unscripted, live-action museum gallery accents including background chatter and beeping proximity alarms.

Image:

Power Figure (Nkisi Nkondi)

Vili, Republic of the Congo or Democratic Republic of the Congo

Early/mid-19th century

Wood, metal, glass, fabric, fiber, cowrie shell, bone, leather, gourd, and feather


Art Institute of Chicago, 1998.502

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