108 terracotta portraits of still missing Chibok girls inspired by the 15th-century Ife heads.

This exhibition presents a collaboration between Obafemi-Awolowo University, 108 students from all across Nigeria, and the families of the Chibok girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014.

Inspired by the iconic terracotta heads of Ife, it was initiated by artists Prune Nourry and Ade Bantu and seeks to raise awareness on the plight of the missing girls, and to highlight the diversity of Nigerian culture.

After meeting the families of Chibok, Nourry and Bantu were entrusted with portraits of their missing daughters, which Nourry used as inspiration for eight portraits, in the style of 15th-century Ife heads. From molds of these eight originals, 108 heads were cast by students and a community of women potters from the Yoruba town of Ilorin, in clay sourced from Ile-Ife.

A workshop was then held at the university. 108 students transformed each mold into unique sculptures, signed by them, using photographs of the missing girls. A delegation of mothers of the Chibok girls and survivors of the abduction, was in attendance, honoring and recognizing their loved ones.

The Statues Also Breathe documentary allows collaborators to share their unique perspectives— teachers, students, or parents of the missing girls. The project is grounded in conversations with the mothers and their determination to ensure that the world does not forget the girls.

This “army of girls” is indivisible. It forms a unique artwork, now travelling internationally. To support this project and amplify its impact, Nourry and Claude Grunitzky established Catharsis Arts Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering collaborative art that promotes healing through creative expression. Upon completion of the tour, the “army” will return to Nigeria to enter the permanent collection of a museum.

Source: MACAAL