28 Aug Bound Nkondi, 1997

Bound Nkondi, 1997
Wood, Steel, Paper, Glass & Mixed
19.5″ x 14.5″ x 3″
Private Collection

In addition to nails, Nkisi often have knotted rope, string or chains to bind or guide the spirits within. So this photo of a heavily tied statue on a loading dock was a natural place to start from in a 2D nkisi. I carved into the wood behind the figure and it’s chains. Inset below is an ancient anatomy drawing set under glass. The greek statue pictured was a portrait of a doctor, so the whole piece became about medicine.