Statue d'ancêtre Uli, Nord de la Nouvelle-Irlande

Serge Brignoni, Berne
Galerie Argile, Paris
Christie's Paris, 12 juin 2003, n° 268
Collection privée, acquis lors de cette vente

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Les statues uli, sculptées et utilisées dans la région située au nord du plateau de Lelet, constituent les œuvres les plus emblématiques de l'art de Nouvelle-Irlande. Objets héréditaires transmis de génération en génération, ces sculptures au caractère hermaphrodite représentaient vraisemblablement des figures d'ancêtres, et symbolisaient les qualités principales du chef de clan. La puissance exprimée par la silhouette massive et par le visage aux traits durs - notamment la bouche ouverte sur des dents taillées en pointes -, renvoient à la force requise pour protéger et soutenir son peuple. Le pénis et les seins sont quant à eux symboliquement liés à sa capacité de nourrir son peuple, et à la reproduction nécessaire à la survie du clan.

Cette statue illustre le style ealandik tel qu'il fut défini par Krämer : représentée debout sans figure annexe, les bras levés, un arc inversé encerclant l'avant du corps. Ici, la puissance et l'équilibre de l'œuvre sont renforcés par la superstructure composée d'un réseau d'étroites bandes qui l'enveloppe. La haute coiffe en forme de nageoire, également caractéristique des statues uli, pourrait représenter l'emblème en plumes du chef de village. Cette statue, remarquable, s'apparente, par son geste et par son style, à celle conservée au musée du quai Branly (inv. 70.1999.2.1), acquise en 1908 auprès de l'officier colonial allemand Franz Boluminski. L'usage des statues uli s'est interrompu au début du XX^e siècle.

A Uli ancestor figure, northern New Ireland

This figure is a classic example of an uli figure, characterised by the blending of male and female attributes that represent the ideal qualities of a clan leader. The aggressive stance and bared teeth, along with the solidity of the body, represent the strength required to protect and support his people; the penis, and breasts, signify the nurturing and reproductive qualities required. Uli figures were probably produced and used in the area just north of the Lelet Plateau in New Ireland.

This figure is carved in the style that Krämer termed ealandik, as it has its arms raised, an inverted arched band in front of body, and stands alone with no smaller figures. It is a solid and symmetrical figure, with the super-structure of thin bands adding to its strength and balance. Its hands are at ear level, and it has the typical hairstyle of an uli, with the fin-shaped head covering that may represent the feather insignia of a village chief. It is a good example of the genre, although it is missing one of the arched bands that cross over its body. It is similar in stance and appearance to the uli figure in the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris (70.1999.2.1), acquired in 1908 from the German colonial officer Franz Boluminski although they were carved by different artists. Their use stopped early in the 20th century.