Plaque c. mid 20th century

This ‘Plaque’ was carved and painted by an Abelam artist from Papua New Guinea; it’s a celebration of process, a marker of time, and a totem of transformation. I mean, just look at it, that’s a slow build of shapes and patterns, not an instantaneous thing. There's such a playful asymmetry to the painted details and carved structure, that I can’t help but think of the artist physically engaged with the medium, rotating it, maybe even dancing around it, layering one tone over another, carving then painting, then carving again. It's a tangible record of artmaking, a real presence in the world. Notice that yellow oblong right in the center? It pulls my eye down the length of the sculpture, leading me toward the inverted face at the bottom; that is an invitation to look at things from a different angle. The dialogue between the figures, between the earthly and the ethereal, asks us to consider the fluid boundaries of art, life, and ritual. It reminds me a little of Francis Picabia’s totemic works, though with an earthier, more grounded approach.