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artist
Spirit figure, Kakáme, 19th–early 20th century
Mangrove root, pigment
21.5 x 33 x 13.5 in.
Gift of Marcia and John Friede in honor of Diane B. Wilsey and Harry S. Parker III 2007.44.81

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: "Collected by Thomas Schultze-Westrum in 1966." (Catalog #455, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 161.) EXHIBITIONS: 2005 - New Guinea Art. Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede. De Young Museum, San Francisco, 2005. 1984 - Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1984, "Primitivism in 20th Century Art." PUBLICATIONS: 2009 FAM Bulletin entry (unabridged) - "German scientist Thomas Schultze-Westrum made multiple research trips to the Gulf Province and collected this spirit figure in 1966. The village where this figure originated is located at the delta of the Fly River on New Guinea's south coast. It is waterlogged with swamps and forests traversed by small streams and sluggish rivers. Mangrove trees and shrubs that grow in the saline habitat thrive. Spirit figures are obtained from the root of the mangrove. A carver or spirit-man dreams an image and then goes to “find” it in the mangrove forest. Small, carved modifications of the surface are made such as the addition of facial features. However, the natural form is retained. In the catalogue accompanying the first United States exhibition of art from the Papuan Gulf in 1961, Douglas Newton explained, “these are no more and no less than naturally formed pieces of wood which strike the tribesman as the abodes of supernatural powers. They are, in fact, the Gulf equivalent of objets trouvés, with a westerner's aesthetic sensibility magnified by a more direct sense of magic. That an aesthetic choice is involved-however unconsciously-we cannot doubt.” (1) In his introduction to the catalogue of the influential exhibition, Primitivism in 20th Century Art, twenty years later William Rubin directly connected this piece with Alexander Calder's (2) Apple Monster created in 1938. He stated that, “Both Calder and the New Guinea artist divined the monster while it still lurked in the raw material of nature. Such seerlike prescience especially appealed to the Surrealists, who would have characterized both the (Gulf figure) and Apple Monster as “objets trouvés aides.” (3)" FOOTNOTES (1) Douglas Newton, Art Styles of the Papuan Gulf. (NY: The Museum of Primitive Art, 1961). 62. (2) (1898-1976) (3) Ed. William Rubin, “Primitivism” in 20th Century Art: Affinity of the Tribal and Modern. (NY: The Museum of Modern Art, 1984). 58. 2005 - "This figure somewhat resembles a stool collected by Paul Wirz in Meagoma village in 1930 (Newton, 1961, figs. 142 and 143), however it is much lighter in construction. Thomas Schultze-Westrum also collected a stool (listed as "headrest") and a bench which are in the collection. He described this figure as an imunu (Schultze-Westrum collection records). When William Rubin published the figure in "Primitivism" in 20th Century Art, he paired it with Alexander Calder's Apple Monster (1938). For the imunu tradition, see pl. 452." (Catalog #455, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 161.) 1984 - Rubin, 1984: 58.

Related Keywords
Kak‡me figure Spirit III Parker S Harry Wilsey B Diane honor Gift 161 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art 455 Catalog 1966 Westrum Schultze Thomas by Collected dialect Gope lang Kiwai NE Meagoma settlement village Karati Oceania Province Gulf Guinea New Sculpture pigment root 1938 Monster Apple Calder's Alexander connected directly 1984 show Primitivism MOMA's Included form natural however features facial addition as such made surface modifications carved Small forest mangrove find goes then image dreams Carver 0709200406050499 A361169 2007.44.81 AOA