Ranti Bam's Clay Sculptures Explore Spiritual Birth Through Embodied Creation
British Nigerian sculptor Ranti Bam creates clay works that resemble vibrantly painted vases or abstract creatures with udder-like feet, some standing at the height of small children. Her process involves physically embracing warm, moist clay as it takes form, engaging the body in a quiet, spiritual manner distinct from postwar action painting tropes. Bam's method integrates healing rituals with goals of introspection, grounding, and sensitivity rather than superficial happiness. The vase form in her work symbolizes fertility and birth, referencing both physical emergence and a second, spiritual birth involving inner transformation. This concept is echoed in philosopher Rüdiger Safranski's writing about birth out of freedom. Her large series titled Ifas exemplifies this approach. ArtAsiaPacific presents this critical essay in collaboration with the Hong Kong nonprofit Burger Collection, which partners with institutions worldwide to support contemporary art.
Key facts
- Ranti Bam is a British Nigerian sculptor
- She works primarily with clay and her own body
- Her objects resemble vibrantly painted vases or abstract creatures with udder-like feet
- Some sculptures are the height of small children
- She creates by physically embracing warm, moist clay
- Her approach differs from postwar action painting tropes
- Her method integrates healing rituals emphasizing introspection and grounding
- The vase symbolizes fertility and both physical and spiritual birth
- She has a large series of works titled Ifas
- ArtAsiaPacific presents the essay in collaboration with Burger Collection
- Burger Collection is a Hong Kong nonprofit
- Burger Collection partners with institutions worldwide to support contemporary art
- The essay references philosopher Rüdiger Safranski
- Safranski wrote about 'the second birth' as 'birth out of freedom'
Entities
Artists
- Ranti Bam
- Rüdiger Safranski
Institutions
- ArtAsiaPacific
- Burger Collection
Locations
- Hong Kong