Twin shrine c. mid 20th century

This small, aged sculpture by an unknown Dogon artist, now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, evokes a sense of serene symmetry, doesn't it? I'm imagining the patient hands that molded this form. I think it might have been a long process, building it up bit by bit. Was it the repetition of creating two figures at once that brought a sense of harmony and balance to the maker? I'm drawn to the weathered texture, the sandy, brown surface – it looks almost like it’s made of earth. This adds to the sculpture's sense of grounding, a feeling of being rooted. I can see a connection between the artist’s touch and the forms that slowly emerged, as if the act of creation was a meditation. It reminds me of the cyclical nature of life, where creation and decay are intertwined. There’s something profound in this simplicity, a testament to the enduring power of art.