Totem Pillar By Lamidi Olonade Fakeye

Sculpture Critique: “Totem Pillar” by Lamidi Olonade Fakeye The “Totem Pillar” by Lamidi Olonade Fakeye is a work of art that can be found at The National Museum of African Art which is an African art museum that is located in Washington, D.C. The museum is one of nineteen under the wing of the Smithsonian Institution, I chose this particular sculpture because I came across it while in that part of the Smithsonian a few years ago and I thought it was beautiful and quite full of interesting detail.
This particular work of art truly exemplifies the African culture. It stands about 6 feet tall and is a pillar carved out of wood that features both realistic and abstract details, it is portraying people and designs that are very significant to the values and beliefs of the African’s.
The sculpture is taller than the height of an average man and it extends upward. The base of the sculpture is a rectangular form which conveys stability. The sculpture illustrates a woman holding a baby and beneath her is a man, although they are not completely realistic they are very easily identifiable. In my opinion what I see in this piece of are is family and unity.
The pillar is not painted to it is the color of the wood it was carved from which is brown, which to me gives off an earthly and natural feeling. The wood appears to be smooth texture and it almost looks as if it is polished over. There are many patterns that are carved all over the surface of the sculpture, after researching this particular sculpture a little more I found that these patterns are called “mender patterning” which in this piece of work it looks as though they resemble the waves of