Non- Western Objects:Transformation Mask

[tatltatlumt]Grace Lin • 10.19.2015

Location: Northwest coast of Canada along Pacific Ocean

Kwakwaka'wakw speaking nations are

Pacific northwest indigenous people

-fish and gather as primary food sources

-cedar forests in region used to make

- homes

- canoes

- totems

- clothing and armor

- utensils and tools w/ seashell

and stone

- ritual objects

Context

Historyoral history:

ancestors came in animal form(s), arrived at given spot, then discarded animal appearance and became human.

known for potlatch ceremonies:

-material goods accumulate in summer

-trade and share during winter

-hosted by numaym [House]

- interconnected extended family units

- founder’s animal mask passed down

- leader + living incarnation

wealth + status defined by how much to give away

Formal Qualities Transformation Mask

Canadian Northwestern CoastKwakwaka’wakw

Late 1800s CE. Wood, Paint, String.

Observationsdeeply undercut curvilinear

depressionsexaggerated beak and nostrils

defined beak and eyes with paintrealistic features of hair and beak

closed: looks like eagle/crowhuman face appears on inside

depicts dual nature of ancestors

DetailsSubject MatterKwakwaka’wakw art: ‘kenning’, fills visual void with motifs and figures

totemscharacteristic bold cuts, realism, emphatic paint

maskstextilesjewelrycarvings

FunctionMasks are important for portrayal of characters in dance ceremonies, spirit enters dancers.

Cross Cultural

Similar to the Lion headed man of Hohlenstein: both mask and figurine thought to allow user to assume or capture essence of spirit/animal.