Warrior figure c. early 20th century

This Warrior figure, by an artist of the Fon people, is currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It’s made from iron, and the rusty patina is just gorgeous. You can really see the hand of the artist in the way the metal is shaped and assembled. The material, the rusty iron, just has so much presence. It feels like the piece has been through something, been out in the elements, almost like it has a life of its own. I am really drawn to the way the artist has used pieces of metal to create texture and form, and the way the figure is adorned with keys! The keys are such an interesting detail - are they symbolic, or were they just what was available to the artist? It makes me think of artists like Thornton Dial, who used found objects to create these incredible assemblages. Art is all about taking what's around you and turning it into something new, something that speaks to the world, and this piece does that in spades.