Shield c. early 20th century

This shield was made by an Asmat artist. Look at its earthy palette – the ochre and cream swirls leap off the dark wood, don’t they? It’s amazing to think of someone taking their time to carve this shield with such care, letting the material guide them as they carve. I wonder what was going through the artist’s mind as they worked. Maybe a feeling of protection and strength? Each carefully carved swirl has a life of its own. They ripple across the surface and you get a sense of movement and energy. It reminds me of artists like Ree Morton, who found beauty in unexpected materials, or maybe even Elizabeth Murray with her joyful approach to biomorphic abstraction. It’s like these artists are all talking to each other, across time and place. What do you think they are saying?