The Sacred Ọ̀ṣun Groves Continue to Inspire
Artists from all over the world helping to tell our stories
ADOLPHUS OPARA – visual storyteller
Kasali Oladepo: Portrait of a BronzecasterOriginal Source: Adunni Olorisha Trust/ Osun Foundation
'My work reflects encounters with people and their daily effort to exist amidst obstacles that define and situate their individual locality.'
This is his portrait of Kasali Oladepo, a renowned bronze-caster and member of the New Sacred Art Movement.
Osun River: The Deity's RealmOriginal Source: Adunni Olorisha Trust/ Osun Foundation
'I am inspired by nature and the explosion of creativity in the Groves and in Osogbo.'
Osun Groves Exhibitions Lagos, Nigeria 2015 & 2019; Harvard University, USA 2019
Adolphus Opara (2016)Adunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Adolphus Opara
www.adolphusopara.com
email: ancopara@yahoo.com
OLUSOLA OTORI – Multimedia Artist
Walls outside Ojúbọ Òṣogbo (2020)Adunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Olusola Otori's photograph of the walls outside Ojúbọ Òṣogbo.
Olusola Otori – short clip (2020) by Olusola OtoriAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
An excerpt from a video filmed by Olusola Otori
Olusola OtoriAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Olusola Otori
'I constantly observe and explore the beauty and
challenges of cultural diversity in Africa.'
www.olusolaotori.com
email: akanbiotori@gmail.com
EVA MARIA OCHERBAUER – Artist, Lecturer, Curator, Writer
Olorisa book coverAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
OLORISA book
'I am considering art as a spiritual antidote to the values of materialism, an almost untranslatable concept best explained as the essential spirit of nature.'
Olorisa bookAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
The OLORISA project investigates the complex relations of art and spirituality in terms of cross-cultural contexts. Contributions by Rahima Gambo, Eva Maria Ocherbauer, Adéọlá Olágúnjú, Roberta Stein, and Sylvester (Okwunodu) Ogbechie.
Eva Maria OcherbauerAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Eva Maria Ocherbauer
Exploring human relations in terms to the natural world signifies her main subject, examined in an experimental way by liberally intertwining painting, performance, sculpture and photography.
evamaria@ocherbauer.de
@_eternal.now
www.ocherbauer.de
GERHARD MERZEDER – Photographer
Gerhard MerzederAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Gerhard first came to Nigeria and Osogbo in 1985 and developed a life-long fascination for Africa and African art. As a professional photographer he has contributed to many publications about Susanne Wenger and the New Sacred Art Movement.
This is him outside her house in 1987.
Gerhard Merzeder photographing Susanne WengerAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
A photoshoot in Wolfgang Denk's studio in Austria
Gerhard has since donated his extensive archive of Òṣogbo photographs to the Susanne Wenger Foundation.
Gerhard Merzeder – https://www.merzeder-photo.com
Gerhard took this portrait of Susanne in 1997.
GERT CHESI – Photographer, Author, Filmmaker, Traveller, Collector of Tribal Art
Gert Chesi published the book "A life with the Gods in their Yoruba Homeland' together with Susanne Wenger in 1983. It remains a valuable source of information about Yorùbá traditions and the history of the Sacred Groves.
Gert ChesiAdunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Director of the 'Museum der Völker'
Gert Chesi staged a special exhibition on the occasion of Susanne Wenger's 100th Birthday in 2015.
He has since donated his vast collection of tribal art to his home town of Schwaz in Tirol, Austria. Gert Chesi has a vast archive of photographs and video footage he has taken over the decades and he has gifted the photo-negatives and slides he took in Òṣogbo in the late 1970s and early 1980s to the Susanne Wenger Foundation in Krems, Austria.
And last – but certainly not least: Wolfgang Denk
Professor Wolfgang Denk
Wolfgang Denk has curated all Susanne Wenger's major exhibitions in Austria since 1985, founded the Susanne Wenger Foundation – of which he still is the executive director – and published many books about her and her art.
Wolfgang and Martha Denk with the 'Òṣogbo family' (1980s)Adunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Martha and Wolfgang Denk with their 'Òṣogbo family'
Wolfgang and Martha Denk travelled many times to Nigeria since 1984 and forged closed bonds with Susanne Wenger's extended family – and their offspring since. They have supported the artists of the NSA Movement and included their work in many of the exhibitions in Austria.
Martha and Wolfgang Denk at the entrance to the Susanne Wenger Foundation in Austria (2022)Adunni Olorisha Trust / Adunni Osun Foundation
Martha and Wolfgang Denk at the Susanne Wenger Foundation
'The purpose of the Susanne Wenger Foundation is to keep her heritage, consisting of her art and her life philosophy, alive'.
Martha and Wolfgang Denk work tirelessly, apply for funds to keep the Foundation financially viable and organise exhibitions, events and publications.
PHOTOGRAPHS provided by
Adolphus Opara
Eva Maria Ocherbauer
Gerhard Merzeder
Gert Chesi
Olusola Otori
Susanne Wenger Foundation
Wolfgang Denk
Find out more about the AOT/F’s work by visiting our website www.aot-aof.org
Your donations will support our continuing efforts to maintain and restore the works of art in the Sacred Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo Groves. Thank you.
