Standing male figure "blolo bian" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3039468

Description

wood, matt greyish brown patina, in some areas shiny reddish brown, hairdo and chin beard worked remarkably fine as well as the scarifications, which are arranged in semi circles below the breast, regular facial features with lowered lids as usual, characteristic posture, slightly dam., fine cracks (back, left side of the head), gap in the base filled with vegetal mass, acrylic base;
in addition to the realms of the village (culture) and the bush (nature), the Baule also believe in a far-off place that they call “blolo”. It is a place “which exists beyond sensory experience”. The Other World is thought of as an ideal world, a place of exaggerated perfection. The “blolo” is inhabited by human spirits. It is the place from which comes the spirit of a newborn and the place to which a person’s spirit returns to death. It is also a place where each person has a partner of the opposite sex. A woman has an “Other World man” - “blolo bian” - , a man has an “Other World woman” - " blolo bla". With the help of fortunetellers, these “blolo” figurines can intervene in difficult situations or in crises in relationships. Such sculptures are especially useful for cases of childlessness. The infertile spouse spends several nights with a specially made figurine in order to conceive with the other spouse in a dream state. Offerings also encourage these “loved ones from the other world” to become active.