Object Details
Maker
Twins Seven-Seven, 1944-2011, born Nigeria
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
Painting by Twins Seven Seven Box 68 OSHOGBO Twins Seven Seven 1967
Box 68 OSHOGBO Twins Seven Seven 1967
Twins Seven Seven 1967
Provenance
Mr. and Mrs. Sean Kelly, -- to 1975
Exhibition History
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 Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks.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.
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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/
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Sean Kelly
Date
1967
Object number
75-28-3
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Painting
Medium
Ink, paint, and chalk on plywood
Dimensions
H x W: 124.5 x 78.1 cm (49 x 30 3/4 in.)
Geography
Nigeria
See more items in
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source
National Museum of African Art
Topic
snake
lizard
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmafa_75-28-3