A Tribute to Susanne Wenger, the Artist.
The world famous artist and Yoruba priestess
Susanne Wenger died on the 12th January 2009
at the age of 93 in her adopted hometown of
Oshogbo, Nigeria.
See > Susanne Wenger's Obituary, by Wolfgang Denk.
(Photo Cibulka-Frey)
I could have met her, end of 2006, when I was in Nigeria and she was still alive and
well but, unfortunately, my friends had already visited her place in Osogbo before
my arrival. Sob ! I would have liked to meet her, see her work and record all this by
myself...
(Slideshow pics by Andrea Hinterseer - Osogbo, 2005)
(osunyemi)
Locally know and revered as Iya Adunni, Susan Wenger an Austrian sculptor
moved to Osogbo, Nigeria in the 1950's. She is credited with stimulating the
Osogbo Art Renaissance and almost single handedly saving the Osun Grove
from development.
She and local artists and craftsmen turned the grove into a mysterious sculpture
garden dedicated to the deity Osun.
This past summer, 2008, we had the opportunity to meet Iya and several of her
adult adopted children.
We consider her son Sangodare one of our Osogbo friends.
The footage in this video stems from two days spent with Sangodare walking
through Grove and hearing about his experiences with his mother over the last
50 years.
(osunyemi)
Leading Asheville Sister City Delegation to visit Susan Wenger (Iya Adunni,
Osun Priestess) credited with saving the Osun Osogbo Grove.
Her monumental sculptures are now in need of repair.
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