Rare Ceremonial Mask, Malekula Island, Vanuatu Published

This beautiful older and used ceremonial mask is from the Small Namba People from the interior of Malekula Island in Vanuatu.  In 1986 and 1987 I made three trips to Vanuatu to look at traditional art and culture. The people in Vanuatu are so kind, helpful and generous everywhere I went and stayed in Vanuatu I was treated this way.  People took me into their homes & fed me and gave me the chance to get to know people and make contacts with tradition artists preparing artworks for ceremony.  This beautiful Hat Mask came from the village of Venamboas in the interior from the SW Bay Area of Malekula island.  It took a whole day to negotiate the visit to this village where I was given the chance to see & purchase some artworks including this Mask. The mask is made from a bamboo frame and covered in a type of bush rope & covered in a vegetable fibre paste that is regularly used in artworks from Malekula.  This mask I have kept for a long time (30 years) because all the years I have owned I enjoy looking at it each day. The ochre painted designs are give the mask a vibrant feeling.

In the field photos above you can see the people who there that day, the man in the photos made the Hat Mask in this listing his name was Kaiar

Exhibited : Oceanic Arts Pacifica : Artworks from the Todd Barlin Collection at the Casula Powerhose Arts Centre 2014 Sydney Australia

Published: Oceanic Arts Pacifica : Artworks from the Todd Barlin Collection at the Casula Powerhose Arts Centre 2014 page 66

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