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History Of Use

Carved as a clan pole that would have been used as a house post.

Description

Deeply carved wooden clan pole covered in various figures, animals and designs on all sides, with the creator figure Tuwatmeri at the top of both sides. The pole is round at the base; slightly flat and rectangular at the top. The eyes of the figures are inlaid with shell. Artist's inscription around pole near base on one side.

Narrative

The house post was carved in the Great Hall during the fall of 2006 as a commissioned piece. The artist was was in Canada for a three month residency, having been awarded an Andrew Fellowship. The pole was meant to be carved from a New Guinea log, but the log failed to ever arrive in Canada, so a replacement log was found, out of spruce. A ceremony was held in the Great Hall on Dec. 10, 2006 to celebrate the completion of the Tuwatmeri Pole. It was hosted by Anthony Shelton, director of MOA, and Chief Larry Grant from Musqueam. This was the first Sepik clan pole to be carved and raised outside of the Sepik River area. The stories on the pole are owned by the Balangu, Connie, Kambak, Minjan and Mosaban families of the Simal clan. The artist sought and received permission from the clan to incorporate the designs into this carving.

Iconographic Meaning

The Tuwatmeri Pole tells the story of Bowi and Simal, the two clans that live in Palembei Village on the Sepik River. The main figure at the top is Tuwatmeri who is the creator of the Simal clan. He is able to change into a snake by the name of Kingin when he eats his victims. The skulls at the center of the pole belong to his victims. In his snake form he still has a human nose. The small bird that stands on his nose can transform into a woman carrying a firepot (at base). The Bird Woman is called Kolimangu. Below the skulls is Simangi Tirundawa, the Fish Woman, who was searching for a home when she found the place that through her magic later became the village of Palembei. She has two names: when she dives in the water she becomes a fish called Simangi; when she comes out of the water her human name is Kanganamun Takua. The Simal clan is named after her. The carved background pattern on the post is called Miambai, and is based on the appearance of river waves. The other side of the pole also shows Tuwatmeri at the top. Kengin's head is at his feet, with his body passing between his legs. Below, Mbapatakua, the Moon Lady, is seated on the crescent moon. (These days she is also sometimes referred to as the mother of Jesus.) In the Simal clan, the names for children are taken from the sun, moon and stars.The Sun, Niodumua, and two Stars (Siguttakua as male; Sigutmeri as female) are also in the design. Kapurun, who has a human face, responds to the slit gong drum (garamut) messages from the chiefs and will draw his long tail to scatter the black clouds to bring the rain, and will help in times of high flood. The Cassowary Woman, Amiratakua, has the head of a bird and body of a woman. The Cuscus, Mapmatakua, carries a ladder to help people get into their house or up a tree. The water lily comes from the Sun and Moon--during the day they are called Niavadi; at night they are Bapradi. Also on the pole are creatures from the Sepik environment: fish, eel, crocodile, and an eagle.