Intersections

Memorials and Transcendence

When spiritual intervention cannot avert death, art is often used to assist in a variety of ways. Some objects are intended to protect the relics of the deceased, while others serve as memorials for the dead. Still others were made as burial goods to accompany the deceased in the passage to the afterlife. In almost all the cultures discussed in this section of the exhibition, death is viewed as a transition to the next world, and art is often integral to this final transformation.

Displayed in this case are ancient tomb sculptures from Mexico and a contemporary Mexican tree of death that honors the memories of deceased loved ones. Adjacent displays feature works from Gabon in Central Africa and from Papua New Guinea; all of these played important roles in mourning and funerary rites.

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    El Arbol de la Muerte: Maquilando Mujeres (The Tree of Death: Factory Women)

    X2004.20.1 El Arbol de la Muerte: Maquilando Mujeres (The Tree of Death: Factory Women)

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    Object Name: El Arbol de la Muerte: Maquilando Mujeres (The Tree of Death: Factory Women)

    Artist: Veronica Castillo Hernández (b. 1967, Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla, Mexico; lives and works in San Antonio, Texas, United States)

    Place of Origin: San Antonio, Texas, United States

    Date/Era: 2003

    Dimensions: H: 87.0 cm, W: 70.0 cm, D: 29.0 cm (H: 34.3 in, W: 27.6 in, D: 11.4 in)

    Medium/Materials: Ceramic, paint, wire

    Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Thomas Wortham.

    Accession Number: X2004.20.1

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    Wood, copper alloy, and iron Kota Janus reliquary guardian figure (mbulu-ngulu)
    Wood, copper alloy, and iron Kota Janus reliquary guardian figure (mbulu-ngulu)

    X65.3800 Janus reliquary guardian figure (mbulu-ngulu)

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    Not Currently On View in Intersections 

     

    Object Name: Janus reliquary guardian figure (mbulu-ngulu)

    Artist: Unknown

    Culture: Kota peoples

    Place of Origin: Gabon

    Date/Era: 18th-19th century

    Medium/Materials: Wood, copper alloy, iron

    Dimensions: H: 67.5 cm

    Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.

    Accession Number: X65.3800

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    X65.4355 Figure

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    Figure
    New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea
    19th-early 20th century
    Wood, pigment, plant fiber, shell
    X65.4355; Gift of the Wellcome Trust.

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    X65.4360 Mask

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    Mask
    New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea
    19th-early 20th century
    Wood, pigment, plant fiber, shells, cotton cloth
    X65.4360; Gift of the Wellcome Trust.

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    Ndzebi or Sango Bwiti association mask

    X65.5270 Bwiti association mask

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    Object Name: Bwiti association mask

    Artist: Unknown

    Culture: Ndzebi or Sango peoples

    Place of Origin: Bend of the Ogowe River, Gabon

    Date/Era: 19th to early 20th century

    Medium/Materials: Wood, plant fiber, cotton string, metal, glass beads, paint

    Dimensions: H: 53cm

    Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of the Wellcome Trust.

    Accession Number: X65.5270

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    X65.5610 Figure

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    Figure
    Northern New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea
    19th-early 20th century; collected before 1933
    Wood, pigment, shell, plant fiber
    X65.5610; Gift of the Wellcome Trust.

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    X81.246 Male figure

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    Male figure
    Colima, West Mexico
    Protoclassic, 200 B.C.E.-400 C.E.
    Ceramic
    H: 35.5 cm, W: 37.5 cm, D: 20.5 cm (H: 13.9 in, W: 14.8 in, D: 8.1 in)
    Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Skip Brittenham and Mr. and Mrs. Ken Ziffren. X81.246

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    Ceramic Colima Acrobat figure

    X81.247 Acrobat figure

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    Object Name: Acrobat figure

    Artist: Unknown

    Culture: Colima

    Place of Origin: West Mexico

    Date/Era: Protoclassic, 200 B.C.E. – 400 C.E.

    Medium/Materials: Ceramic

    Dimensions: H: 20.0 cm, W: 35.0 cm, D: 16.0 cm (H: 7.8 in, W: 13.8 in, D: 6.3 in)

    Credit Line: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Skip Brittenham and Mr. and Mrs. Ken Ziffren.

    Accession Number: X81.247

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    X81.250 Figure with protuberant back

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    Figure with protuberant back
    Colima, West Mexico
    Protoclassic, 200 B.C.E.-400 C.E.
    Ceramic
    H: 28.9 cm, W: 19.5 cm, D: 17.2 cm (H: 11.4 in, W: 7.7 in, D: 6.8 in)
    Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Skip Brittenham and Mr. and Mrs. Ken Ziffren. X81.250

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    X81.269 Female figure jar

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    Object Name: Female figure jar

    Artist: Unknown

    Cultural Group: Colima

    Place of Origin: West Mexico

    Date: Protoclassic, 200 B.C.E. – 400 C.E.

    Materials Used: Ceramic

    Dimensions: H: 33.0 cm, W: 26.6 cm, D: 18.0 cm (H: 12.9 in, W: 10.5 in, D: 7.1 in)

    Credit line and Accession Number: Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Skip Brittenham and Mr. and Mrs. Ken Ziffren. X81.269

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    X84.166 Figure

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    Figure
    Malagan
    New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea
    19th-early 20th century
    Wood, pigment, plant fiber, shell, resin
    H: 91.5 cm, W: 26.0 cm, D: 26.0 cm (H: 36.0 in, W: 10.2 in, D: 10.2 in)
    Fowler Museum at UCLA. Gift of Dorothy M. Cordry in memory of Donald B. Cordry. X84.166

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    X87.630 Mask

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    Mask
    Malagan
    New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea
    19th-early 20th century
    Wood, pigment, shell, plant fiber, cotton cloth
    W: 23.0 cm, H: 86.0 cm, D: 36.0 cm (W: 9.1 in, H: 33.9 in, D: 14.2 in)
    Gift of Patricia B. Altman. X87.630

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    X88.513 Figure, dog

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    Figure, dog
    Colima, West Mexico
    Protoclassic, 200 B.C.E.-400 C.E.
    Ceramic
    H: 19.1 cm, L: 32.4 cm (H: 7.5 in, L: 12.8 in)
    Bequest of Mary Stansbury Ruiz. X88.513

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