mia-africa-americas:Bis Pole, 20th century, Minneapolis Institute of Art: Art of Africa and the Amer
mia-africa-americas:Bis Pole, 20th century, Minneapolis Institute of Art: Art of Africa and the Americasbis pole, mangrove wood, New Guinea, AsmatThis is a ritual bis pole created to honor a recently deceased, important member of society. The family commissions an artist to carve a pole out of a single piece of wild nutmeg tree, representing clan members who have passed on. Its shape evokes a canoe, the main mode of transportation for the living and the dead, and a vehicle to take the spirit to the next world. The pole is displayed at a great community ceremony and a mock battle is staged around its base to appease any restless spirits. Then it is ritually disposed of, its purpose complete.Size: 174 x 12 x 45 in. (442 x 30.5 x 114.3cm)Medium: Wood, pigmenthttps://collections.artsmia.org/art/2138/ -- source link
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