Yangoru Boiken Female Ancestral Spirit Figure-New Guinea Art-Oceanic Art
Yangoru Boiken Female Ancestral Spirit Figure
Yangoru Boiken area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Field collected by Michael Kremerskothen, Dortmund, Germany
Published in Art of the Boiken, by Michael Hamson, 2011, no. 15, page 66
Early 20th century or before
25 ¼” (64 cm) in height
While less well-known than their western neighbors the Abelam, the Boiken people created some magnificent figurative sculpture. This female ancestral spirit is from the Yangoru area and has a compact, powerful composition. The oval head sprouts directly out of the shoulders; the arms follow the curve of the torso to rest its hands on the abdomen. The legs are bent in the classic “hocker” position associated with childbirth. The expression is direct and forthright—with a toothy grin, pierced nose and ears. The red, white, and black pigments are muted and softened with age.
Published in "OCEANIC ART: PROVENANCE AND HISTORY" edited by Michael Hamson, pages 132/133, item 24.