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Artwork Details
65 x 32 x 24 in.
Accession NumberGift of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Eiteljorg
Copyright(Lamine); sold on 17 October 1974 to Harrison Eiteljorg [1903-1997] Indianapolis, Indiana; given to the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields in 1989.
The men who wear these impressive masks, as helmets, can see through the snout. They appear during initiation activities of the men's Poro association. The masquerader escorts the boys into the initiation school in the bush and announces their return to the village.
As spiritual overseer of Poro initiation proceedings, the masker pretends to devour the youths. Later, they are believed to be reborn from his stomach, as though through a womb. The prominent teeth and red mouths of these masks may allude to the ritual devouring.
This mask's imagery combines the opposing forces of nature and civilization. Natural forces of the universe are symbolized by the "great bush spirit," which can be seen in the mask's great size and crocodile-like mouth with movable lower jaw. Civilization is symbolized by the "legendary first ruler," an ancestor who is identified by the nose and other human facial features-the beard, bushy eyebrows, and ear hair and nose hair of an elder.
Exhibition Name
Venue
Dates
Selections from the Harrison Eiteljorg Collection of African Art
University of Indianapolis
March 23, 1980 - April 3, 1980
African Art from the Harrison Eiteljorg Collection
Indianapolis Museum of Art at Columbus
February 10, 1977 - April 3, 1977
African Art from the Harrison Eiteljorg Collection
Indianapolis Museum of Art
April 14, 1976 - May 23, 1976
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