Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The first publication on the Yor b master sculptor Moshood Ol ṣọmọ B migb y B migb y A Master Sculptor of the Yor b Tradition is the first monograph dedicated to the 50-year career of the Nigerian artist Moshood Ol ṣọmọ B migb y (ca. 1885-1975). One of the most important Yor b sculptors of the twentieth century, B migb y is best known for the spectacular masks that he carved for religious festivals known locally as Ẹpa. Weighing up to 80 pounds and measuring over 4 feet tall, with intricate superstructures that could feature dozens of finely carved individual figures, these masks represent some of the most complex and elaborate works of Yor b art ever made. With 190 illustrations, this sumptuous volume presents masterpieces from B migb y 's workshop now housed in collections in America, Europe, and Nigeria. Essays situate B migb y 's work as part of Africa's oldest and most dynamic art traditions and consider his sculpture in relation to contemporary Yor b art, culture, politics, and religion. With new and archival photographs and incorporating oral histories conducted with the artist's family and community, this catalogue fills a critical void in African art-historical scholarship.