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Standing Female Figure, early 20th Century
Asmat culture; Papua (Irian Jaya) Province, Indonesia, Melanesia
Wood and bone; 45 1/2 × 9 × 10 in.
2013.19.1
Bowers Museum Purchase
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With approximately 70,000 inhabitants living in hundreds of villages,the cultural region of Asmat is located along the southwestern coast and inland region of the world’s third largest island, New Guinea. One of the most significant beliefs in the Asmat culture is the vital connection between life and death, as one cannot exist without the other. In relation to both worlds, the Asmat people trust that trees and humans are intertwined, as wood is considered to be the primary source of life and is often utilized for representing the deceased through the art of woodcarving. Master wood carvers, also known as wowipits, carry a prestigious role in the community, as most of their figurative sculptures portray significant ancestors and relatives. Such sculptures are commonly carved and presented inside the jeu, a ceremonial house for men where spirits connect with the living and devotees awaken the ancestors in the figures through musical performances.
Although different villages depict unique carving styles, the two most common gestures depicted in Asmat wooden figures are the squatting position with elbows connected to the knees, and in the case of Bowers Museum’s female figure, an upright position with straight arms and legs parallel with one another. In addition to her traditional form, traces of white pigment painted underneath her arms and between her thighs show the use of one of three customary colors used by wowipits (red, black and white). The white tint, being lime prepared from clam shells, serves as the ground pigment on Asmat carvings; it is also used by the Asmat for personal adornment. This standing female figure, like many traditional Asmat figure sculptures, has broad features and a generalized body structure. Her simplistic form and facial features display minor detail to precisely identify the individual represented. Although the simplistic styles of traditional Asmat ancestral wood carvings do not illustrate detailed portraits of their ancestors, they are still uniquely created and honor specific individuals after they are deceased.
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