Susanne Wenger House: Sculpted Wooden Shutter

This bas relief carved wooden shutter by Buraimoh Gbadamosi depicts a forest animal that, upon hearing the sound of the drum, stood up and danced.
Buraimoh Gbadamosi (1925-2014) was one of Susanne Wenger’s artistic collaborator, 'soul mate', and one of her closest friends. Along with Kasali Akangbe-Ogun and Rabiu Abesu, he created most of the wooden pole carvings for the shrines in the Ọ̀ṣun Groves. He is perhaps best known for his magnificent stone sculptures with large bulging eyes, which Susanne lovingly called “Kiliwis”. (“Kiliwi” is the Yoruba word for “something small and cuddly” - a descriptive expression coined by Susanne Wenger).
They are displayed throughout the Sacred Groves as well as inside and outside her house. Gbadamosi was also Susanne Wenger’s next door neighbour. Originally a tailor by trade, he was encouraged by Wenger to try his hand at wood carving, and he demonstrated enormous talent. His first works of art were commissioned wooden doors for her house, and were carved in deep relief depicting traditional themes.