With more than three hundred tribes in the region, Papua must have the most tribes of all the islands in Indonesia. This fact makes Papua the most diverse in both ethnicity and culture. One tribe known in this region domestically and internationally is the Asmat tribe. The Asmat has uniqueness from many other tribes in this region. Maybe that is why there was an exhibition at the American Museum of Asmat Art in America.
Asmat has something astonishing for the art lover. It is proved by the exhibition of Amat art that is displayed in America. Aren’t you curious about this program? Hence, we will provide you with some information.
The American Museum of Asmat Art, Thousands of Art from the Western Part of Indonesia
Asmat people in Indonesia are known internationally for their fine wood carvings in the area. Of these facts, it is natural for them to have their exhibition to show their great art from the era of their ancestors. The Museum of Asmat Art in America presents more than two thousand of their traditional and contemporary objects acquired from the original place.
The University of St. Thomas holds the American Museum of Asmat Art. This exhibition is said to be one of the largest in the United States. The Asmat tribe’s art has been known and widely collected even though it is facing difficulties regarding its remote area. The art from this tribe is known to be quite expressive and made many people search for the objects, especially after the world war ended.
The gallery in this museum shows the tribe’s work, such as canoes, ancestor poles or bis, and many other aspects of the traditional art of the tribe. Nowadays, you can see the collection through the online platform.
American Museum of Asmat Art History
Bishop Alphonse Sowada founded the museum. Sowada is an American who has worked with the Asmat people in Agats, Indonesia, for decades. His work with this tribe began in 1958. He also wrote books about the tribe’s culture and art besides collecting the Asmat’s objects.
He founded the Asmat Museum of Culture and Progress in Agats, Indonesia, in 1973. As well as the wood carving competition and auction, this is to appreciate their works further away. After his retirement, Sowada showed his collection in Hastings, Nebraska, and Shoreview, Minnesota. And then, after that, he donated it to St. Thomas.
This place has now become one of the teaching collections in the country. It is used by the students and graduates in the Art History and Museum Studies program to explore and learn about the Asmat tribe’s humanity through its art collection.
The Asmat tribe itself is known for its wood carvings. The wood carvers in the tribe are always highly respected. In addition to ancestor poles and drums, the company also produces canoes and canoes with wood carvings.
Their relationship with the trees is always spiritual. They always believe that there is some relationship between humans and trees on a spiritual level. The woods are also seen as their source of life. Nonetheless, the art of the Asmat tribe seems to be more than art, and it also contains something deeper. Hence, that is what makes their art always fascinating.
Final Thought
The American Museum of Asmat Art proves that the tribe is its character that differs from another tribe in the same region. They have many wonderful pieces of art that we should know about internationally. This exhibition is a form of appreciation for the culture and the ethnic diversity in the Asmat tribe. Hence, we need to understand it more.
