Wire Ibeji Figures

Wire Ibeji Figures

Background Information:

Ere Ibeji, Twin Figures

Among the Yoruba, twins (ibeji) are special children whose birth can bless their parents with good fortune. The Yoruba have one of the highest rates of twin births in the world, and the loss of twins is therefore considered a great misfortune. If a twin dies, the mother commissions a memorial figure (two if both twins die), and the soul of the deceased twin is transferred to it. The mother dresses the statuette in cloth and adorns it with jewelry, and keeps it near her bed. She also offers it food and prayers weekly and performs more elaborate rituals on the occasion of birthdays and annual festivals. The figures are carved according to different regional styles. The statuettes conform to the Yoruba aesthetics of physical proportion. The head is one third the size of the body, because the head is associated with a person’s destiny or “inner head,” which determines success and failure in life. Artistic emphasis is placed on “human resemblance,” rather than photographic likeness, and the facial features, though stylized, are carefully deliniated and delicate. The smoothed surface, which is difficult to achieve without sandpaper, expresses the desired quality of luminosity. Other Yoruba aesthetic qualities are relative straightness, good composition, youthful appearance, and clarity of line.

http://www.lib.virginia.edu/dic/exhib/93.ray.aa/Exhibition.html

Media: Aluminum wire, colored wired, wire mesh

Size: At least 12 inches in height

Assignment:

• Begin by creating 3-4 preliminary sketches in your sketchbook using only line. Keep in mind you will be creating a wire sculpture, so use the lines in your drawing to illustrate how you will use the wire. Give consideration to thick and thin lines. How will you represent mass?
• You will create a set of Ibeji (Twin) figures as created by the Yoruba People. These will be made out of wire and wire mesh.
• Everyone will work with one partner, unless there is an uneven number of students in a class.
• Each student is responsible for creating their own figure, but you will work with your partner to make your sculptures as identical as possible.
• The two sculptures may have slight variations and need not be identical, but the shapes and proportions of the figures should match as closely as possible.
• Use a variety of thick and thin “lines” in your sculpture. Create areas of mass. Be sure your sculpture is freestanding. Practice good craftsmanship.

 

Rubric:

Treat the wire as “lines in space.” Have a variety of thick lines, thin lines, straight lines, wavy lines, etc.

The sculpture should match your partner’s as closely as possible.

The head of the sculpture should be approximately 1/3 the size of the body (as evident in the Yoruba Ibeji sculptures)

The sculpture should be at least 12 inches in height.

The sculpture should be freestanding.

The wire and/or mesh should be used in a manner that clearly defines the overall shape of the object as well details.

The wire should be handled in a careful manner. The sculpture should display strong craftsmanship.