Bronze casting | Phil Omodamwen
On their trip to Nigeria, Beatrice von Bormann and Aude Mgba met Phil Omodamwen. In his workshop, we got to whitness the unique way in which he casts Benin bronzes, in preperation for the exhibition Back to Benin: New Art, Ancient Legacy.
Phil Omodamwen (b. 1971) is a sixth-generation Benin bronze caster from Nigeria. Born into the Omodamwen family, which belongs to the bronze-casting guild, his lineage joined the guild in 1504 AD. For over 500 years, the family has preserved this heritage while bringing in significant innovation. Omodamwen has been a strong advocate for the reparations and restitution of the Benin bronzes that were forcefully taken by the British in 1897.
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