B&W gelatin prints on 10"x14" [25x36 cm] selenium treated paper, printed in a limited edition of 10 numbered, dry sealed and signed pieces. Each sells for US$ 350.00
B&W gelatin prints on 10"x14" [25x36 cm] selenium treated paper, 8" mat; wood frame 36"x42", gold paint, fetish bag and shells, made and decorated by the author. US$3,500.00
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Four
blocks of stalls full of fetishes and ingredients for black and white magic,
smells of sweat, of dusty furs, of the badly tanned hides of the gri-gris:
chameleons, live pythons, eagle, crocodile and monkey heads, dried porcupines,
crucified chicken, antelope horns and leopard hides, black monkey hands closed
in dramatic fists. Two hands – these last human – come out from under a
stall and give you a business card that says “guérisseur and charlatan” and
pull you into a dog’s bed. “It’s a temple” a voice explains in the dark.
You start seeing a fetish covered by a yellow paste and surrounded by gin
bottles. Gin is everywhere in voodoo temples: also whisky, pastis and an
improbable schnapps, but sorcerers
seem to prefer gin. You wanna be sure of your wife’s love? Get this holy cola
nut that you have to call by her name. Are you a traveler? Put the stick in the
hole in the stone and nothing will happen to you. The traveler’s talisman is
the most popular.
COTONOU,
BENIN, 1996
globevisions
