ST. LOUIS, SEPT. 5, 2023 — The Saint Louis Art Museum will present “Aso Oke: Prestige Cloth from Nigeria,” an exploration of ceremonial and celebratory Yoruba textiles from the early 19th to late 20th century.
The free exhibition opens Sept. 29 with a public opening from 5 pm to 7 pm in the museum’s Sculpture Hall.
“Aso oke” (ah-shō ōkay) is a fabric handwoven by Yoruba weavers in southwestern Nigeria. Three elemental types of aso oke—“sanyan” (undyed raw silk), “alaari” (magenta-dyed silk) and “etu” (indigo)—form the foundation upon which weavers have created abundant material and design innovations.
Textiles from the museum’s permanent collection, alongside recent acquisitions of agbada men’s robes and mid 20th-century cloths from a local collector, demonstrate unique weaving techniques, including ikat, openwork, carryover threads and mixed strip assemblage. Late 20th-century cloths utilize new materials such as Lurex, rayon and more that evoke a luminous effect while maintaining the integrity of the fundamental aso oke triad.
Nigerian studio-based artist Nengi Omuku’s work will be on view in this exhibition. Inspired by sanyan, Omuku paints directly onto cloth collected from markets in Nigeria. Visitors will be introduced to Omuku’s specific engagement with aso oke that asserts presence for both her painted compositions and the cloth itself. Additionally, a complimentary painting by the artist will be displayed in the museum’s East Building.
“Aso Oke” is curated by Nichole N. Bridges, the Morton D. May Curator of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, with Shaka K. Myrick, the 2021-2023 Romare Bearden Graduate Fellow. The exhibition will be on view in the Carolyn C. and William A. McDonnell Gallery 100 through March 10, 2024.
CONTACT: Molly Morris, 314.655.5250, molly.morris@slam.org
