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.

X2004.20.1 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)

<< Back

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

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

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

<< Back

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

Quick View
X65.4355 Figure

X65.4355 Figure

<< Back

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

Quick View
X65.4360 Mask

X65.4360 Mask

<< Back

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.

Quick View
X65.5270 Bwiti association mask

X65.5270 Bwiti association mask

<< Back

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

Quick View
X65.5610 Figure

X65.5610 Figure

<< Back

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.

Quick View
X81.246 Male figure

X81.246 Male figure

<< Back

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

Quick View
X81.247 Acrobat figure

X81.247 Acrobat figure

<< Back

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

Quick View
X81.250 Figure with protuberant back

X81.250 Figure with protuberant back

<< Back

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

Quick View
X81.269 Female figure jar

X81.269 Female figure jar

<< Back

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

Quick View
X84.166 Figure

X84.166 Figure

<< Back

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

Quick View
X87.630 Mask

X87.630 Mask

<< Back

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

Quick View
X88.513 Figure, dog

X88.513 Figure, dog

<< Back

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

Quick View