240777
Wusear [figure from a flute]
Papua New Guinea, East Sepik Province, Yuat River
Wusear [figure from a flute] , wood, shell, hair, ochres, fibre57.0 (h) x 12.5 (w) x 14.0 (d) cm Private collection
This is figure with its confrontational stance and looming head once decorated the end of a long bamboo flute and such figures are regarded as the ‘children’ of the monstrous crocodile mother Ashin, the great creator. The entire bamboo flute and the Wusear figure could be decorated in shell jewellery, feathers and other adornments leaving little but the face of the figure visible. This classic example Biwat art was collected by artist Sir William Dobell in 1949, and spent two decades hanging from his studio wall.
This is figure with its confrontational stance and looming head once decorated the end of a long bamboo flute and such figures are regarded as the ‘children’ of the monstrous crocodile mother Ashin, the great creator. The entire bamboo flute and the Wusear figure could be decorated in shell jewellery, feathers and other adornments leaving little but the face of the figure visible. This classic example Biwat art was collected by artist Sir William Dobell in 1949, and spent two decades hanging from his studio wall.
This is figure with its confrontational stance and looming head once decorated the end of a long bamboo flute and such figures are regarded as the ‘children’ of the monstrous crocodile mother Ashin, the great creator. The entire bamboo flute and the Wusear figure could be decorated in shell jewellery, feathers and other adornments leaving little but the face of the figure visible. This classic example Biwat art was collected by artist Sir William Dobell in 1949, and spent two decades hanging from his studio wall.
