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| The Metropolitan Museum of Art |
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Slit Gong (Atingting kon)- musical instruments |
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| Asmat "bis" poles- used to honor the dead, and as a reminder to avenge the dead |
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| A ceremonial house ceiling from the Kwoma people up top |
One of my favorite galleries at The Met is the Oceania room, specifically, the Melanesia section (my namesake yay!), which includes works from New Guinea and Island Melanesia. Since I've always had a strange obsession with all things wooden- homes, furniture, jewelry, art, bicycles, shoes, and of course, trees themselves- entering this room is like dying and going to wood heaven (insert lame Jesus-was-a-carpenter joke here). The dimly-lit, quiet space gives off an enigmatic yet tranquil vibe. I love sitting on the bench in from of the towering phallic bis poles and soaking up the energy.
Generally my mind wonders off in thoughts of Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel, an ambitious book that traces the development of the modern world over the course of the last 13,000 years. It was inspired by the author's Papua New Guinean friend who questioned inequality in the world, and who wondered why and how it was that Europeans were the ones to conquer it. Diamond, an evolutionary biologist, forms his theories on geographical and environmental evidence, as opposed to biological or cultural factors. It's a riveting read!
A great PBS documentary based on the book was made in 2005:
And speaking of my wood obsession (insert dirty joke hear) check out these amazing eye glasses! I want a pair!
"One breath away from mother Oceania/ Your nimble feet make prints in my sands/ You have done good for yourselves/ Since you left my wet embrace/ And crawled ashore/ Every boy, is a snake is a lily/ Every pearl is a lynx, is a girl/ Sweet like harmony made into flesh/ You dance by my side/ Children sublime/ You show me continents/ I see islands/ You count the centuries/ I blink my eyes/ Hawks and sparrows race in my waters/ Stingrays are floating/ Across the sky/ Little ones, my sons and my daughters/ Your sweat is salty/ I am why/ I am why" --Bjork, Oceania
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