
Sofia Vellano Rubin
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£150,000 - £200,000

Sale Coordinator
In his Africa Dances series, Enwonwu focuses mostly on movement and rhythm. In the artist's words from an interview early in his career (1950):
"The accent here is, of course, on rhythm. It is not portrayed as the movement of the hands and legs. I do not see exactly like that when a girl is dancing but as a painting, it is permissible to accentuate rhythm."
This particular painting represents 'Obitun' (meaning new woman), which celebrates a girl's transition into womanhood. It is particular to Ondo State, in south-western Nigeria. This dance ceremony is supposed to be performed for every maiden in the town before she gets married.