“O my soul, sink not into despair,
Virtue is near thee, and with gentle hand
Would now embrace thee, hovers o’er thine head”
-excerpt from On Virtue, by poet Phillis Wheatley
The Chi Wara headdresses by the Bamana people of West Africa are carved to honor the mythical being Chi Wara. Under Chi Wara’s guidance, humans first learned to cultivate the land and became prosperous and knowledgeable farmers.
The headdresses often take the form and features of the graceful antelope,
the sturdy aardvark, and other significant animals within Bamana culture
that represent agriculture and growth. As agricultural practices continue
to evolve, these headdresses stand as a bridge connecting past traditions to
the present. In a world where the rapid pace of technological advancement
often overshadows ancient customs, the Chi Wara headdresses remind us of the intrinsic value of our roots and our futures simultaneously. At the heart of this exhibition, artist Autumn T. Thomas recognizes the Chi Wara headdresses as a source of inspiration for her own interpretive forms.
Much like traditional Bamana artisanship, Thomas meticulously carves her
sculptures with intricate details. She references the flowing lines and
dynamic postures of the antelope and aardvark to exemplify her reverence
for the natural world, the sustenance that agriculture provides, and the
importance of connecting the past with our growth toward the future.
Thomas presents sculptures made from African mahogany wood, Padauk wood, concrete, copper, resin, and digital print on oiled paper. The combination of materials illuminates the push and pull of our past, present, and future and how our histories continue to sustain us as we grow and change as a society.
- Collections: Tya Anthony - Science-Informed Art Practice
Other Work From Autumn T. Thomas
