This is a rectangular wooden Asmat carving depicting two individuals, seated in opposite directions but connecting at the back. It is painted entirely in white, black, and red chalky pigments which dust off easily. Around both of the figures is a round rectangular frame which holds them in place. The larger of the two figures is crouched on the right side, with feet and hands connected to the outside frame. The smaller of the two figures is upside down and is attached to the back of the larger figure at the glutes. This figure is in a crouched position, with feet attached to the back of the larger figure’s head and hands stretched downwards and attached to the outside frame. Both figures feature carved lines on their limbs, torso, and head, possibly as a stylized depiction of musculature. Both feature red paint along these lines and around the facial features. Both also have black painted hair. The biological sex of the figures is ambiguous due to the lack of characteristic genitalia carvings. On the upper left quadrant of the piece are two animal heads, a hornbill in the lower portion and a crocodile in the upper portion. Both animals are populous in Papua New Guinea, particularly along the rivers and waterways on which many Asmat communities are built.
Carvings such as this are produced in Asmat society for ceremonial events and for ancestral/spiritual worship. Typically, they depict the ancestral figures of the artist who produces them in ways that honor them and grant mystical power. Carvings such as this are produced for events such as building dedications, ceremonial festivals, and funeral events. After their primary function has been fulfilled, carvings are often discarded in the rainforests so that the spirits which inhabit them may rejuvenate the sago trees.
Colors: White, Black, Red, Brown
