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Très rare statue d'homme dansant, groupe Kiwai, Golfe de Papouasie , Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée
Description
- Très rare statue d'homme dansant, groupe Kiwai, Golfe de Papouasie
- haut. 124 cm
- 49 in
Provenance
Condition
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
On connaît très peu d'exemplaires de ces sculptures émouvantes par leur simplicité, épousant la forme naturelle du bois. Selon John Friede (2005 : 160-161, n°452-453), les figures imunu - généralement sculptées dans des racines de mangrove -, représentent des êtres-esprits masculins ou féminins. Après un rêve, elles sont « trouvées » par le sculpteur dans la forêt de mangroves, et étaient semble-t-il conservées dans les maisons cérémonielles des hommes.
Une figure d'homme dansant (pourvue de bras) est conservée dans la collection Jolika de Marcia et John Friede, à San Francisco (89,5 cm), une autre plus petite (61 cm) au musée d'Arts Africains, Océaniens et Amérindiens de Marseille (Nicolas, 2000 : 197, n°181) et une troisième au Tropen Museum d'Amsterdam (94 cm, ancienne collection Paul Wirz, 1930, reproduite dans Newton, 1961 : 63, n°140).
Ces sculptures "minimalistes", dont la spontanéité particulière en font selon Newton (1961 : 62), "les œuvres les plus personnelles de tout le Golfe Papou" influencèrent les artistes du XXe siècle. La statue imunu de la collection Jolika (Friede, 2005 : 161, n°455) fut mise en parallèle avec une sculpture d'Alexandre Calder (Apple Monster, 1938) lors de la célèbre exposition Primitivism in 20th Century Art au MOMA, à New York, en 1984.
A very rare dancing male figure, Kiwai people, Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea
Very few examples of attenuated Papuan Gulf figures are known. They are distinguished by a striking simplicity which follows the natural form of the wood. According to John Friede (2005: 160-161, n°452-453), Imunu figures --usually sculpted from the roots of a mangrove tree-- represent male or female spirit-beings. After a dream, the figures were "found" by the sculptor in the mangrove forest, and were kept in men's ceremonial houses.
A figure of a dancing man (with arms) is in the Jolika Collection at the de Young Museum, San Francisco (height: 89.5 cm); another, smaller, figure (height: 61 cm) is in the Museum of African, Oceanic and Amerindian Arts in Marseilles (Nicolas, 2000: 197, n°181); and a third is in the Tropen Museum, Amsterdam (height : 94 cm, formerly in the Paul Wirz Collection, 1930, reproduced in Newton, 1961: 63, n°140).
According to Newton (1961: 62), these "minimalist" sculptures have a particular spontaneity that makes them "the most personal works of the entire Papuan Gulf". They influenced 20th century artists, a case in point being the Imunu figure from the Jolika Collection (Friede, 2005: 161, n°455) which was displayed alongside a sculpture by Alexander Calder (Apple Monster, 1938) in the landmark exhibition, Primitivism in 20th Century Art held at MOMA, New York in 1984.