Gelede
Gelede
Artist
Betye Saar
(born 1926)
Date1971
MediumMixed media assemblage
Dimensions58 in. × 16 in. × 2 1/4 in. (147.3 × 40.6 × 5.7 cm)
ClassificationsMixed Media
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2017.7
Signedverso: Betye Saar
Accession number
2017.7
On View
Not on viewLabel TextBetye Saar described a 1970 visit to the Field Museum in Chicago as “an important step in my development as an artist, because I saw lots and lots of African art, Oceanic art, and Egyptian art.” The materials and the cultural meanings of these works impacted her deeply, and she drew on these in her practice. Here, she references the gelede ceremonies of Yoruba-speaking communities in southwestern Nigeria, annual performances celebrating the life force of women. Instead of copying the formal features of masks from those ceremonies, Saar invented her own imagery.
Betye Saar describió una visita al Field Museum de Chicago en 1970 como “un paso importante en mi desarrollo como artista, porque ví muchísimo arte africano, arte oceánico y arte egipcio.” Los materiales y los significados culturales de estas obras de arte la impactaron profundamente y se inspiró en ellos en su trabajo. En esta, hace referencia a las ceremonias gelede de las comunidades de habla yoruba del suroeste de Nigeria, representaciones anuales que celebran la fuerza vital de las mujeres. En lugar de copiar los rasgos formales de las máscaras de estas ceremonias, Saar ideó su propia imaginería.
Inscribedverso: The vastness of the sea / The greatness of her powers / When she moves she fills the night / (and the day also) / Gelede
