Malian contemporary artist Souleymane Ouologuem will offer a workshop in African mud cloth at Oil & Cotton next week.
Bogolafini, or bogolan, is a traditional technique of dyeing cloth with fermented river clay and boiled n’galama leaves.
This “mud cloth” is part of the cultural identity of Mali and is used to make everyday things as well as fine art.
Here’s how Oil & Cotton describes its cultural significance:
Bogolan motifs all have meaning. Some communicate historic battles and events. Others are meant to empower or protect those who wear the cloth, for example, young women enduring female excision rites, mothers enduring childbirth, or hunters and warriors traveling into dangerous territories. Hunters’ bogolan tunics will often be appliquéd with hunters’ trophies, mirrors to stun the animals, small amulets, and other kinetic devices.
The workshop will cover the symbolism and spacing used in bogolan, as well as modern takes on the craft. Students will dye their own bogolan scarf.
Africanist art historian Jessica Hurd will co-lead the class, from noon-3 p.m. Sunday, March 13; it costs $65.
