A Fine Old New Guinea Yina Figure Waskuk Area Upper Sepik River Papua New Guinea

A Fine Old New Guinea Yina Figure Waskuk Area Upper Sepik River Papua New Guinea

This beautiful small-scale Yina Figure from the Kwoma People in the Waskuk Area on the Upper Sepik River area of Papua New Guinea.

Yina is one of three distinct ceremonies held annually in the villages of the Kwoma, Nukuma, and Mayo speakers of the Upper Sepik River, in a region generally referred to as the Waskuk Hills. These ceremonies are associated with fertility and the harvesting of yams and the spiritual well-being of communities. There are two other Yam Harvest Ceremonies that are associated with a distinctive form of sculpture, Minja & Nogkwi. 

This small-scale Yina sculpture is unusual for its diminutive size, it is very old Yina and probably kept for the personal protection of an old man.

Ritual leaders organize the Yina ceremony at yam harvest time. The next two ceremonies feature their own sculpted images of Mindja and Nokwi and must also be performed before the full harvest.  Older Yina Figures are hidden in garden huts, away from the village. They have acquired power over time and through use. New carvings are required from time to time; power is not inherent, but develops in the process of carving and painting.

For the annual ceremony, both old and new Yina figures are freshly painted. They are firstly covered in black paint and left to dry. Only on the final day before the ceremony are the other colours ; red, yellow, and white added.  After color is applied the remaining black is covered with a sap from the shogwiyaw tree, making the surface look strong and lustrous.

The ceremony takes place inside the men’s Ceremonial house (korob) A platform is built, and while one major Yina figure is displayed as a focus, many lesser Yina’s, other associated figures, and pottery heads may be used. The pottery heads are particularly beautiful. The Yina is tied by the shaft to the poles of the platform and further decorated with shell wealth items, a ‘beard’ made of feather down, pig’s tusks, and sometimes a headdress.

Slit gong drums are played and songs of myth relating to the yam harvest are sung. At the finish of the ceremony, the Yina is stripped of its decorations, wrapped tightly in sheaths from the black palm, and returned to the garden hut.  The Yina spirit gives its owner continuing support throughout the year in hunting, fighting, and sexual prowess.

Waskuk’s artworks are some of the most beautiful sculptures made in New Guinea, they have surrealist aesthetics that are unique. I have always thought very highly of their artworks and have a number of Kwoma Sculptures in my home.

Provenance: Leo Fleischmann Collection (c.1930 – 1993)  Sydney Australia. Leo ran the famous Galleries Primitif in Sydney from 1967 – 1993 )  He was a true expert on Oceanic Art and had a huge reference library to use for research.  His collection was legendary and after his death, his old friend and boss Senta Taft Hendry quietly sold off objects over the next 20 years. There was one Sotheby’s sale of his Club collection in Sydney.

The Todd Barlin Collection of New Guinea Oceanic Art 

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