Asmat Art Views

• Books

The Asmat are an ethnic group of New Guinea, residing in the Papua province of Indonesia. Possessing one of the most well-known and vibrant woodcarving traditions in the Pacific, their art is sought by collectors worldwide. The Asmat inhabit a region on the island's southwestern coast bordering the Arafura Sea, with lands totaling approximately 19,000 km2 (7,336 mi2) and consisting of mangrove, tidal swamp, freshwater swamp, and lowland rainforest. The land of Asmat is located both within and adjacent to Lorentz National Park and World Heritage Site, the largest protected area in the Asia-Pacific region. The total Asmat population is estimated to be around 70,000. The term Asmat is used to refer both to the people and the region they inhabit.

Traditionally, many Asmat men practiced polygyny by marrying more than one woman. In many cases, men were expected to marry a male relative's wife if that male relative died (otherwise the woman and her children would be left without a source of protection or economic support). Schneebaum reported[1] that many Asmat men had long-term ritual sexual/friendship relationships (mbai) with other men, although the prevalence of this practice has been disputed by others. In the mbai system, male partners were also known to share their wives in a practice called papitsj[1]. It is probable that missionary influence in the last several decades has reduced the occurrence of both mbai and papitsj.

Chez Les Asmat, Papous de nouvelle-Guineeacute;e Occidentale Irian Jaya, by Paul Simpelaere, photographs by Roi Lgeacute;opold III de Belgique. Published by Fonds Lteacute;opold III our l'Exploration et la conservation de la Nature, 1983, ISBN 90-209-1094-9. History, culture and art of the Asmat from Simpelaere's 1973 expedition. Text in French.

Moenchengladbachs Asmat Art Galerie has found a new home. The gallery has taken up quarters on Eiswerder island, located in Berlins Spandauer lake. This was an ammunition plant back in the time of the German Emperor. This has made it possible to give the general public the opportunity to view an impressive collection of art from the Asmat tribe.