Bowl c. 1980 - 1988

pigment, ceramic

natural stone pattern

naturalistic pattern

pigment

ceramic

geometric pattern

abstract pattern

repetitive shape and pattern

organic pattern

repetition of pattern

pattern repetition

layered pattern

repetitive pattern

This carved wooden bowl, created by the Asmat artist Tshuosh (Sawos), is a striking example of Asmat art. The bowl, dating from c. 1980 - 1988, is adorned with a complex geometric pattern carved in relief. The intricate design, featuring a combination of curves and sharp angles, is painted in shades of red, yellow, black, and white, highlighting the three-dimensional nature of the carving. The bowl's aesthetic beauty and intricate carving reflect the rich cultural traditions of the Asmat people, and showcase the artist's mastery of woodcarving and decorative techniques.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Bowls such as this are made on the plains north of the Sepik River by the Tshuosh (Sawos), and are hand built by the women using a coiling technique. After the pots have dried, the men decorate them, carving the bottom of the bowl into elaborate curvilinear patterns. Once fired, the bowls are painted with yellow, white, red, and black, enhancing the natural contrast between pigment and clay. Although heavily abstracted, the designs applied to these pots represent specific elements of the natural world. One recognizable shape is the "spirit face" image, a dynamic motif found eight times on this particular example. Despite their commonplace use, eating bowls such as this were always decorated, giving the vessels a spiritual charge.