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The Sepik, an art workshop

The Sepik River winds for more than 1,100 km along a wide swampy valley in the north of Papua New Guinea. The people who live along its banks and tributaries present an extraordinary diversity of language, culture and art. This region is characterised by the profusion of styles and great richness of its art work.

Ancestor worship

Ancestor worship is inspired by the idea that the link with the dead continues after death for several generations and can even go back to the origin of the clan. In exchange for the offerings made to the ancestor spirits, the living expect to receive protection, wealth and prosperity.

In the Sepik region, despite evangelisation, the ancestors still play an important role for the living and they are a constant presence in their lives.

However, to make their presence felt they need a physical support to dwell in. The masks and sculptures then become the ancestor himself and the music a manifestation of his presence and voice.

Bibliograpy

• Guiart Jean. 1963. Océanie. Paris : Gallimard, P. 220, fig. 190, MEG Carl-Vogt, OC 463
• Chauvet, Stéphen. 1930. Les arts indigènes en Nouvelle-Guinée. Paris : Société d'éd. géographiques maritimes et coloniales, Fig. 385, MEG Carl-Vogt, OC 100
• Reche, Otto. 1913. Der Kaiserin-Augusta-Fluss, Ergebnisse der Südsee-Expedition, 1908-1910. ; 2, Ethnographie ; A, Melanesien ; 1. Hamburg : L. Friederichsen, P. 404, pl. LXXVIII, No 6, MEG Neuchâtel
• Krieger, Maximilian. [1899]. Neu-Guinea. Berlin : A. Schall, P. 510, fig. 50, MEG Carl-Vogt, OC 16