Twin shrine c. mid 20th century

This Twin Shrine was made by the Dogon people; we don’t know exactly when, or how. You can see it at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I’m struck by its strange duality. These figures seem to rise out of the same base, like twins sharing a body. There’s a stillness to it, an earthy gravity that pulls your eye down. It's rough hewn, as if shaped by hand from the earth itself. Look closely, and you can almost feel the grit of the material, perhaps clay or a similar substance. There's an ambiguity in the details, like the worn features of the figures, or the rusty metal additions, offering only glimpses of their story. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation. In some ways this reminds me of Arp, whose sculptures also invite a kind of tactile seeing. But unlike Arp’s bronzes, this piece feels less refined, more raw. The Dogon artists embraced imperfection, reminding us that art isn't about perfection, but about connection, storytelling, and the enduring power of the human spirit.