26
Figur, "blolo bla"
Baule, Côte d’Ivoire
Gesockelt (base included)
Holz. H 47 cm.

Provenienz:
- Josef Müller (1887-1977), Solothurn.
- Museum Barbier-Müller, Genf.
- Henri Kamer (1927-1992), Cannes.
- Galerie Walu, Zürich.
- Denise David, Zürich.

Publiziert:
- Hattis, Phyllis / Barbier, Jean-Paul et al. (1978). „Die Sammlung Josef Müller“, in: DU. Europäische Kunstzeitschrift.
- Baum, Peter (2001). Gold aus Afrika aus der Privatsammlung von René und Denise David. Linz: Neue Galerie der Stadt Linz. Seite 132.
- David, Jean (2001). Baule. Zürich: Galerie Walu. Seite 43.

Ausgestellt:
Neue Galerie der Stadt Linz. Gold aus Afrika aus der Privatsammlung von René und Denise David ( 2001).

Weiterführende Literatur:
Vergl.: Bassani, Ezio / McLeod, Malcolm D. (1989). Jacob Epstein, Collector. Mailand: Associazione Poro. Abb. 54ff.

Die liebevollen blolo-bla- und blolo-bian-Figuren gründen auf der Vorstellung, dass jeder Baule im Jenseits (blolo = andere Welt) einen spirituellen Partner, d.h. eine Ehefrau (bla) oder einen Ehemann (bian), hat und bestrebt sein muss, mit diesem in bester Beziehung zu leben. Gelingt ihm dies nicht, macht ihm sein Jenseits-Partner das Leben schwer.

Eine weitere Figur aus der gleichen Hand ist bestens dokumentiert. Sie stammt aus der Sammlung Carlo Monzino, und das männliche Gegenstück könnte sogar mit der hier angebotenen weiblichen Figur ein Paar gebildet haben.

Vergl.: Mullin Vogel, Susan (1986). African Aesthetics: The Carlo Monzino Collection. New York: Center for African Art. Seite 55 ff.

Susan Vogel (op. cit.) beschreibt die Monuzino-Figur wie folgt: "Beyond the harmonious and grave aspect of this figure is a quality both childlike and wise that stands at the core of African art. The Baule and other African peoples sculpt figures that represent a cultural ideal, a perfect person who combines the beauty and physical strength of youth with the wisdom and composure of age. The erect bearing indicates a morally upright person; the open eyes suggest intelligence and lucidity. Here the hands, held somewhat stiffly and obediently at the sides, and the feet, modestly planted, give the figure a respectful attitude that shows good character. Physical perfection can be seen in the healthy body: the strong neck able to bear heavy loads, the well-developed pectoral muscles, and muscular calves of a hard worker. The phallus and rounded buttocks bespeak maturity and sexual attractiveness, and thus the promise of children.

It is important that such a figure depict an ideal since it was probably made to serve in a shrine for a woman's spirit spouse. The Baule believe that all of us, before we were born on earth, had a spouse in the other world, and that these spirit spouses may from time to time become angry or jealous and disturb the lives of their living partners. A person so afflicted becomes unable to fulfill his or her role as a parent and as a productive member of society. When a diviner diagnoses a spirit spouse as the cause of misfortunes, an altar must be established where the spirit may receive offerings and be appeased. In order to attract and please the spirit, the carved figure should be beautiful. The spirit spouse is always described by its human partner as being physically attractive and morally upstanding - a perfect husband or wife. The figure thus depicts an ideal of Baule manhood or womanhood and helps its owner come closer to achieving an ideal in his or her own life.

The surface of this figure is a rare example of one that has not been tampered with. Clearly it has been washed with water, a practice often mentioned by the Baule but rarely apparent on figures in col lections. For the Baule, washing has a twofold significance. The Baule word for dirt (fien) means not only physical filth but also ritual impurity; the word for washing (wunnzinle) signifies not only washing with soap and water but also cleansing with prayer. The clean, washed surface of this figure expresses a Baule ideal - a man who is physically and morally pure.

Weiterführende Literatur: Vogel, Susan M. (1997). Baule. Yale: University Press.

CHF 15 000 / 30 000
EUR 12 900 / 25 800

Old crack (right side of the face ) filled. Alter Riss (rechter Gesichtshälfte) gefüllt.