Exhibition: Art Asmat: L’Esprit De L’ Arbre 1998 (Art Asmat: The Spirit of the Tree ) at The Musee Territorial De Nouvelle- Caledonie

Art Asmat: L’Esprit De L’ Arbre 1998 (Art Asmat: The Spirit of the Tree ) at The Musee Territorial De Nouvelle- Caledonie

Publication: L’Art Asmat a Musee Territorial De Nouvelle Caledonie

The Museums and Heritage Service presents an exhibition entitled “Art Asmat: The Spirit of the Tree” November 4, 1998 to February 2, 1999 in the temporary exhibition halls of the Territorial Museum of New Caledonia

The objective of this exhibition is to promote the art and culture of the Asmat of Irian Jaya in New Guinea, through the enhancement of the Asmat collections acquired from the Todd Barlin Collection by the Service Musee since 1990.

In 1985 -1986 Todd Barlin spent months living in Asmat Villages collecting & documenting Artworks that ended up in Museums & Art Galleries & Private Collections around the world including the National Museum in New Caledonia.

The main Asmat creation myth is about the creator Fumeripitjs who was lonely so he carved figures from wood and then he made a drum, when he played the drum the carved wood figures came to life and that is how the first Asmat people were created.  For the Asmat the connection between trees and people and the forest is profound.