back to search results
Less Info

Villagers from Amborep have gathered to celebrate the carving of four new ancestor poles, or bisj, commissioned by a German art collector for $1,500. They are ceremonially erected at the water’s edge in front of the men’s long house. Erection of ancestor poles was traditionally an opening of hostilities against another village to avenge the dead whose lives are represented in the carvings. To end the fighting, Indonesian authorities banned Asmat festivals and burned their carvings. Today the Asmat, supported by Catholic missionaries, carve once again to keep their history fresh and to earn cash.

Filename
STNMTZ_19930601_32.TIF
Copyright
©1993 George Steinmetz
Image Size
7231x4833 / 100.0MB
www.georgesteinmetz.com
Contained in galleries
Irian Jaya
Villagers from Amborep have gathered to celebrate the carving of four new ancestor poles, or bisj, commissioned by a German art collector for $1,500. They are ceremonially erected at the water’s edge in front of the men’s long house. Erection of ancestor poles was traditionally an opening of hostilities against another village to avenge the dead whose lives are represented in the carvings. To end the fighting, Indonesian authorities banned Asmat festivals and burned their carvings. Today the Asmat, supported by Catholic missionaries, carve once again to keep their history fresh and to earn cash.

All images ©George Steinmetz. Please contact us for usage.