Exhibition themes Korewori region

To the south of the Sepik River are the Blackwater and Korewori rivers, which flow from a rugged hinterland where remote communities live in small villages. The arts of the Yiman, Inyai and Ambonwari people of this region are some of the most remarkable from Papua New Guinea.

This ancient carving from the Korewori River represents a powerful crocodile spirit being (saki). Only a handful are known to exist but traditionally they were kept in pairs hidden in the ceremonial house and were considered protectors of the community, especially during times of war. They played a major part in male initiation events and in preparations for headhunting activities, where the spirit crocodiles could give directions for impending raids and divine the outcome.

Along the sides are long meandering designs representing the lungs and intestines of the spirit crocodile. On the tip of the snout is the face of a benevolent wunduma female spirit being. At the nape of the neck and the tail are pairs of what look to be crocodile’s legs raised on its back, but they are part of an abstract figure of an aggressive spirit associated with fighting.