Statue, Sépik, Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée

This work originates from the Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea, one of the most celebrated sources of traditional Oceanic art in the world. Sepik sculptors, working within complex ritual and ceremonial traditions, produced powerful figurative statues used in spirit houses (haus tambaran) to embody ancestral spirits and clan identities. These sculptures are renowned for their intricate surface decoration, expressive faces, and deep spiritual significance within the cultural framework of Sepik communities.