This section considers these ideas in relation to the objects and their makers. It celebrates the artists of these works as important cultural actors and demonstrates how artists from the societies represented were pioneers and explorers. Pushing the boundaries of the knowable world through their creations, they produced channels through which humans could mediate myriad relationships, both earthly and divine.
In the menu to the left, click on the headings nested below Art and Action to learn more.
Bowl
Artist: Jumai Pitiri Gulcoss
Tera peoples
Nigeria
Circa 1970
Gourd
H: 11.5 cm, Diam: 24.0 cm (H: 4.5 in, Diam: 9.4 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Barbara Rubin-Hudson. X83.687
Flower basket
Japan
19th-20th century
Bamboo, tree root, rattan
H: 45.5 cm, W: 29.0 cm, D: 27.0 cm (H: 17.9 in, W: 11.4 in, D: 10.6 in)
Gift of Nancy and Richard Bloch. X87.171
Object Name: Chair of power (kiti cha enzi)
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Swahili peoples
Place of Origin: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Date/Era: 1989
Medium/Materials: Wood, ivory, string
Dimensions: H: 123.0 cm (H: 48.4 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Steve and Linda Nelson.
Accession Number: X89.367
Headrest
Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua (New Guinea), Indonesia
19th-early 20th century
Wood
H: 18.0 cm, W: 16.5 cm, D: 5.5 cm (H: 7.1 in, W: 6.5 in, D: 2.2 in)
The Jerome L. Joss Collection. X92.16
Areca nut cutter, pair of lovers
Tamil Nadu, India
Brass
16th-17th century
L: 16.0 cm, W: 10.5 cm, H: 4.0 cm (L: 6.2 in, W: 4.1 in, H: 1.5 in)
Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Samuel Eilenberg. X95.38.75
Object Name: Crown
Artist: José Rodriguez (b. 1956)
Place of Origin: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Culture: Yoruba peoples
Date/Era: 1997
Dimensions: W: 22.0 cm, D: 24.0 cm, H: 60.5 cm (W: 8.7 in, D: 9.4 in, H: 23.8 in)
Medium/Materials: Beads, thread, feathers, fabric, wood, shells
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Museum purchase, Commissioned by the Fowler Museum.
Accession Number: X95.5.1
Object Name: Stirrup spout bottle
Artist: Unknown
Culture: Moche
Place of Origin: Peru, north coast
Date/Era: 100 – 800 C.E.
Medium/Materials: Ceramic
Dimensions: H: 24.9 cm, W: 18.5 cm, D: 22.0 cm (H: 9.8 in, W: 7.2 in, D: 8.6 in)
Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Franklin D. and Judith H. Murphy.
Accession Number: X96.8.62