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| ART F R O M A F R I C A
Twins Seven Seven: Nigerian Artist of the Oshogbo School |
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Prince Twins Seven-Seven, 2003
(photo courtesy of the artist).
Indigo Arts exhibits work by some of Nigeria’s leading contemporary artists of the last forty years, notably the flamboyant painter and musician, Twins Seven-Seven.
Prince Twins Seven-Seven was born in 1944 in Ogidi Ikimu, Nigeria. Twins was one of the original artists of the famed Oshogbo School (named for the city of that name), which arose in the newly independent Nigeria of the early 1960’s. Seven-Seven rapidly achieved international fame, with major exhibitions in Europe, Japan and Australia as well as the United States, and his work is now in museum and private collections around the world, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
As described in a citation at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2005:
He is a prominent artist as well as a bandleader, teacher, dancer, actor and spokesman for Yoruba culture. His artistic works reflect a personal cosmology, drawn from Yoruba myths and stories. Twins' highly individual technique is the physical manifestation of a universe of potent forces in a state of constant treansformation. The images themselves are wonderfully complex; forms collide with colors to reveal a mythopoetic world that demonstrates his unique imaginative power.
Twins Seven-Seven's autobiography, A Dreaming Life, edited by Ulli Beier, was published in 1999 by Bayreuth African Studies, Bayreuth, Germany.
A major monograph on Twins Seven-Seven was published in 2010, Prince Twins Seven-Seven: His Art, His Life in Nigeria, His Exile in America
by Henry Glassie (published by Indiana University Press). Copies are available at Indigo Arts.
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Twins Seven-Seven at Indigo Arts Gallery
November 5, 2004
In May, 2005, we received the news that UNESCO had named Twins Seven-Seven its UNESCO Artist for Peace for 2005. The award was presented by the Director-General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura at a ceremony in Paris on May 25th, 2005. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the African Union. 2004 Nobel Peace Prize-winner Wangari Maathai also received a UNESCO award at the ceremony.
We are fortunate that Twins Seven-Seven has chosen to live in the Philadelphia area for much of the last fifteen years. One of Twins Seven-Seven’s paintings was featured in the Philadelphia Musem of Art show, African Art, African Voices, and the museum since added a major piece to its permanent collection. His work was also featured in our African Visions show and he and his band played live at our November 5, 2004 opening.
Twins Seven-Seven remains an exciting musician, as is evident in his recently released CD, Royal Voices. We have a few copies available for sale below:
Royal Voices
Prince Twins Seven-Seven The Singing Ambassador
Crossover Dancehall Music
Recorded in Philadelphia. PA, USA, 2005
CD with 8 songs
$15 each
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Shape in the Clouds
Twins Seven-Seven (1944 -), Oshogbo, Nigeria
c. 1990
Oil on Paper (19 1/4" h x 13 3/4"w)
$1250
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In God's Diary (Ami Ninu Akosile Olodumare)
Twins Seven-Seven (1944 -), Oshogbo, Nigeria
1984
Oil, acrylic, ink on canvas
(30" h x 30"w)
$6500 |
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Baby Naming Ceremony
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
1990
Oil and acrylic on canvas
(14 3/4" h x 15 1/4"w)
SOLD 4/06 |
Three Wise Ocean Gods: Air, Sea, Nature Controller
Twins Seven-Seven (1944 -), Oshogbo, Nigeria
1990
Ink on plywood with plywood collage
(48" h x 96 1/2"w)
Published in Contemporary Art of Africa, Edited by Andre Magnin with Jacques Souilillou, Abrams, 1996 (p. 64)
Price on request
SOLD 6/09 |
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Golden Fishes in the Dark Sea
Twins Seven-Seven (1944 -), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2004
Ink and acrylic on paper
(17" h x 14"w)
$1200
SOLD 2/10 |
The Green Cat Man and the Flying Snakes
Twins Seven-Seven (1944 -), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2004
Ink and acrylic on paper
(17" h x 14"w)
$1200 |
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Golden Fishes in the Dark Sea
Twins Seven-Seven (1944 -), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2006
Four-color poster print, published by Living the Good News, signed by artist
(20" h x 16"w)
$95 each |
Blessed Fisherman Family and Golden Fish
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2006
Oil, acrylic and pastel on canvas
(27 1/2" h x 26"w)
$5000 |
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Midnight Drawing in My Mind #1
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Ink & acrylic w/ collage on paper
(17" h x 14 1/2"w)
$750
SOLD 3/09 |
Midnight Drawing in My Mind #2
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Ink & acrylic w/ collage on paper
(17" h x 11"w)
$750 |
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Mamy and Child - Village Life
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Oil, acrylic, ink and pastel on plywood
(23 3/4" h x 12"w)
Price on Request |
The Singing Birds
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2006
Oil, acrylic, ink on canvas
(33 1/2" h x 11 1/4"w)
Price on request (framed)
SOLD 10/09 |
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Priest and Priestess in Festivity Mood of Ibeji Ceremony
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Acrylic, ink on fabric
(40" h x 39 1/4"w)
Price on request |
Worshipping of Ogun in the Invisible World of my Reincarnation Brothers and Sisters
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Acrylic, ink on fabric
(56 1/4" h x 63"w)
Price on request |
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Dream of Fish Collector
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Acrylic, ink on fabric
(34" h x 13"w)
Price on request |
Village Farmer Woman Leader
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Acrylic, ink on fabric
(33" h x 13"w)
Price on request |
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The Percussion Ghost of Music
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Oil, acrylic, ink and pastel on plywood
(24" h x 12 1/4"w)
Price on Request
SOLD 7/09 |
The Golden Lover Bird in Head Count
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Oil, acrylic, ink and pastel on plywood
(24" h x 12 1/4"w)
Price on Request |
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The Singing Birds in Egg Count
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Oil, acrylic, ink and pastel on plywood
(24" h x 24"w)
Price on Request |
The Blessed Family
Twins Seven-Seven (1944 -), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2006
Ink, acrylic and colored pencil on paper
(17" h x 13"w)
Price on Request |
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The Dream of the Oldest Collector
Twins Seven-Seven (1944 -), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2006
Ink, acrylic and colored pencil on paper
(17" h x 13"w)
Price on Request |
Creative Shapes in Obatala's Diary II
Twins Seven-Seven (1944 -), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2006
Ink, acrylic and colored pencil on paper
(14" h x 15 1/2"w)
Price on Request |
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The Woman Carrying Water
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Oil, acrylic, ink and pastel on plywood
(24" h x 12 1/4"w)
Price on Request |
The Golden Mother
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Oil, acrylic, ink and pastel on plywood
(24" h x 12 1/4"w)
Price on Request |
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Acrobatic Dancers
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Oil, acrylic, ink and pastel on plywood
(24" h x 12 1/4"w)
Price on Request |
Village Life Under the Cocoa Tree
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Oil, acrylic, ink and pastel on plywood
(24" h x 12 1/4"w)
Price on Request |
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Palmwine Tapper and Family
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2007
Oil, acrylic, ink and pastel on plywood
(24" h x 12 1/4"w)
Price on Request |
The Reptiles Tyranny Drummer
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2009
Acrylic, ink on canvas
(35 1/2" h x 16"w)
Price on request |
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Mother of Fraternity
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2010
Acrylic, ink on canvas
(31" h. x 15 3/4"w.)
Price on request |
He and She - Baby in Blue
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2010
Acrylic, ink on canvas
(31" h. x 15 3/4"w.)
Price on request |
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Ocean Blessed Family
Twins Seven-Seven (1944-), Oshogbo, Nigeria
2009
Acrylic, ink on canvas
(31" h. x 15 3/4"w.)
Price on request |
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1400 North American St., #104 • Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phone: (215) 765-1041 • Toll Free: (888) INDIART • Fax: (215) 765-1042
E-Mail: indigofamily@indigoarts.com
Al l photographs and text Copyright Indigo Arts Gallery, LLC., 1998-2010. Use without permission prohibited.
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