Yoruba people, Oro/Omu Aran region Twin figures, ere Ibeji Wood, beads, pigment, Collection of J. Richard Simon
Press Play to see a photo slide show of the exhibition installed.
Ere Ibeji:
Yoruba Twin Figures from the Collection of J. Richard Simon
September 2–October 17, 2010
Iowa Memorial Union, Black Box Theater
125 North Madison Street, Iowa City, IA 52242
For over two decades, University of Iowa professor emeritus Richard Simon has collected ere Ibeji, or figures of twins, created by the Yoruba people of southwest Nigeria. These small figures, carved of wood, represent the deceased twins born to Yoruba mothers, who have the highest rate of twin pregnancies in the world. After a twin's death, the ere Ibeji figure is fed, bathed, clothed, and offered the same loving care that Yoruba lavish on living infants and especially on surviving twins. Curated by Christopher Roy, UI professor of Art History and Elizabeth M. Stanley Faculty Fellow of African Art, this exhibition presents the 300 extraordinary examples of ere Ibeji in Simon's collection, providing rare insight into this profound artistic tradition of Yoruba culture.
Christopher Roy will give a gallery talk about the exhibition on September 16 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theater of the Iowa Memorial Union.
Images of Twins: ere Ibeji in Yoruba African Culture, a conference held in conjunction with the exhibition, will feature three of the world's experts on ere Ibeji figures: Marilyn Houlberg, John Pemberton, and George Chemeche. The conference will take place on October 8 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.in the Becker Communication Studies Building, Room 101 and will be followed by an all-donor and public reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Iowa Memorial Union, North Room.
For more information about Professor Simon's collection including photos of his beloved figures and copies of UI student papers about the ere ibeji, visit Christopher Roy's website.
