Iyare! Splendor and Tension in Benin's Palace Theatre

This exhibition catalogue explores the art of Nigeria's Benin Kingdom via theatrical metaphors that echo palace settings, performers and ceremonies. It also considers what happens during non-celebratory moments of preparation and relaxation, the impact Benin art and culture have on surrounding regions, and how they both recovered from the 1897 British invasion and have spread their reach world-wide. The catalogue concentrates on the collection of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, but also features loan objects and extensive field photographs, reconstructive drawings and maps. An index, glossary and extensive bibliography are included. The catalogue was a seminar project for the IYARE exhibition held at the Penn Museum in 2008; Curnow wrote the chapter text and some catalogue entries, while students contributed other entries.