Shield c. early 20th century

This Shield was made by an Asmat artist, carved from wood. Look at the repetitive, symmetrical design, made up of these flowing, spiraling shapes in red-orange and white. It reminds me that art-making is a process of building up layers, both physically and conceptually. The texture of the wood is very present, isn’t it? The artist hasn’t tried to hide the material, but rather celebrates it. The colors are earthy and muted, giving a sense of age and history. If you look closely, you can see the marks of the tools used to carve the wood, adding to the sense of the artist’s hand. See that one part near the middle where the orange meets the white? It's like they're dancing together. This piece resonates with the work of artists like Forrest Bess, who also explored themes of spirituality and symbolism through abstract forms. Like Bess, the Asmat artist embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own interpretations to the work.