Specifications

• Height: 65 cm
• Material: wood
• Position: squatting (?)
• Gender: 
• Indigenous name: kawe

Provenance

Loed van Bussel, The Hague, 1960s.

Publications

Ref.: Smidt, Dirk (ed.)(1993), Asmat Art, 91

Additional information

Very unusual and in the meantime striking depiction of the human body.

The special position of arms and legs, which are connected, is associated with the creation myth of Fumeripitsj. The first people were wooden statues in the position just mentioned and by animating them, through beating the drum, they came to life and could walk. The position is also reminiscent of the praying mantis, a head-hunting symbol. (Smid o.c. 90)