Dance Mask with Bird Totem c. 20th century

pigment, sculpture

pigment

building site documentary shot

sculpture

sculptural image

possibly oil pastel

derelict

underpainting

sculpture

painting painterly

watercolour bleed

mixed media

watercolor

This intricately woven mask, created by Ngavimeli in the 20th century, is a striking example of Papua New Guinean art. The mask, crafted with natural materials, features a stylized human face adorned with a prominent bird totem, likely symbolizing a powerful spirit or ancestor. The use of feathers, hair, and other organic materials adds a textured and dynamic quality to the mask, further enhancing its symbolic and ritualistic significance. This Dance Mask with Bird Totem is a captivating testament to the rich artistic traditions of Papua New Guinea, showcasing the skillful craftsmanship and symbolic depth of Indigenous art.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This dance mask, made by Ngavimeli, an Iatmul artist from New Guinea, was worn during ceremonies to honor deceased members of the community. Two dancers, concealed under a costume of plant fibers, typically wore the mask together. It is one of two masks, danced as a pair, representing ferocious eagles who were killed for causing destruction in the village. As revenge for their deaths, their brother, a crocodile spirit, brought devastating floods to the region. The frigate bird on top of the mask, a common image in Iatmul art, is believed to be an intermediary between the living world and the realmn of the ancestors.