Twins Seven-Seven, 1944-2011, born Nigeria Search this
Medium:
Ink, paint, and chalk on plywood
Dimensions:
H x W: 124.5 x 78.1 cm (49 x 30 3/4 in.)
Type:
Painting
Geography:
Nigeria
Date:
1967
Label Text:
Twins' imagination knew no bounds. He filled his works with fantastic creatures, creating a world with ties to Yoruba oral traditions, myths, religion and his own personal experiences. His paintings and prints are densely populated with figures that stand out from the background and seem to move towards the viewer. Each image is carefully outlined in ink and subtly uses complementary colors. It is not uncommon for him to include an English identification or explanation of the subject in the image, as in this painting with a placard which reads: THE LAZY HUNTERS and The POISNOUS WRESTLERS LIZARD Ghost & "The COBRA." Also included is his name and studio address.
Description:
Painting on plywood of a giant lizard biting and clawing a snake and a group of small people in the lower right corner, with houses on the left side; overall painted patterns and ink outlines. A square sign in the center has the title and artist information: "THE LAZY HUNTERS and The POISNOUS WRESTLERS LIZARD Ghost & "The COBRA" Painting by Twins Seven Seven Box 68 OSHOGBO Twins Seven Seven 1967
Artful Animals, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., July 1, 2009-July 25, 2010
A Concrete Vision: Oshogbo Art in the 1960s, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., January 23-October 22, 2000
Published References:
Goodman, Elaine Sooy. 2009. "Warren M. Robbins and the Founding of the National Museum of African Art." Tribal Art XIII: 2 (51), p. 95, no. 21.
National Museum of African Art. 2000. A Concrete Vision: Oshogbo Art in the 1960s. Exhibition booklet. Washington, D.C: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution (not illustrated).
Phaidon (eds). 2007. 30,000 Years of Art: The Story of Human Creativity Across Time and Space. London, New York: Phaidon Press, p. 987.
Potter, Polyxeni. 2010. "There Is Always Something New Out of Africa." Emerging Infectious Diseases 16 (7), cover.
Content Statement:
As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
Image Requests:
High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
