Benin-Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria
dal 9/7/2008 al 20/9/2008
Segnalato da
9/7/2008
Benin-Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria
The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
The royal arts of the Benin kingdom affirm the centrality of the oba, or divine king, and portray his divine nature. They recount the kingdom's significant historical events, activate the oba's interactions with the supernatural, and honor his deified ancestors, forging a continuity that is vital to the kingdom's well-being. The exhibition presents approximately 220 works of art from collections in Europe, Nigeria, and the United States.
This summer, the Art Institute is the exclusive North American venue for the landmark exhibition Benin—Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria, featuring the royal arts of the Benin kingdom in south-central Nigeria. On view will be spectacular works in brass and ivory from the 15th through the 20th century, including palace plaques, altar sculpture, ritual objects, and courtly regalia.
The royal arts of the Benin kingdom affirm the centrality of the oba, or divine king, and portray his divine nature. They recount the kingdom’s significant historical events, activate the oba’s interactions with the supernatural, and honor his deified ancestors, forging a continuity that is vital to the kingdom’s well-being. Through these extraordinary works of art, the exhibition traces Benin’s history—from its origins to the arrival of Portuguese envoys in the 15th century to the growing wealth of the kingdom from coastal trade. It also looks at themes of kingship, hierarchy, and ritual within Benin’s royal court. In 1897 British forces invaded the Benin kingdom. The exhibition closes by considering the reconfiguration of Benin’s monarchy and its arts following this course-altering event.
The Art Institute’s presentation of Benin—Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria features approximately 220 works of art from collections in Europe, Nigeria, and the United States.
Catalogue: The 40-page catalogue Benin: Royal Arts of a West African Kingdom, created especially for the Art Institute’s presentation, highlights 22 of the exhibition's masterworks. An insightful essay by curator Kathleen Bickford Berzock considers the meaning and use of these objects against the backdrop of Benin’s long history. The catalogue will be available in mid-July in the Museum Shop and online at http://www.artinstituteshop.org.
Organizer: Benin—Kings and Rituals: Court Arts from Nigeria is an exhibition of the Museum für Völkerkunde Wien—Kunsthistorisches Museum, in cooperation with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria; the Ethnologisches Museum—Staatliche Museen zu Berlin; the Art Institute of Chicago; and the Musée du Quai Branly, Paris.
Member Preview Day: July 9
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago