Power Figure c. 20th century

This Power Figure was created by the Luba people. Just imagine the maker, how they felt as they shaped it! There's this dark, gleaming wood, carved with such care. The figure sits, serene, atop this rotund base. There is a pot on top which they carefully hold, like it's full of secrets. Then there is a shell, and some hair. All these textures and forms create a sense of mystery. I wonder, what was going through the sculptor’s mind as they worked? Were they thinking of protection, of power, of the spiritual world? There is a conversation across time with other makers using similar materials, all trying to make sense of the world. It makes me think about how art is a way of asking questions. It’s not always about answers, but about feeling our way through the unknown, together.