Collection Online
Medium
earth pigments on wood, fibre rope
Measurements
77.0 × 218.5 × 10.0 cm
Place/s of Execution
Kinomere village, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea
Accession Number
2004.351
Department
Pacific Art
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by Ed and Alice-Anne Boylan, Fellows, 2004
© the artist
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation
Gallery location
Not on display
Physical description
These figures are known as Kakame to most of the villagers but their real name, kept secret by the elders is Kaiamunu, the most powerful spirit of the Papua gulf area. These figures are kept covered in the Venai (the initiated men's long house). The elders communicate with Kaiamunu through this figure and are given knowledge of when or how to plant gardens, go to war, undertake trading missions etc. On receiving this information, the elders present Kaiamunu with a small offering of food, placed at the feet of the figure. This animated figure is carved in the form of a zoomorphic figure.