Travel to the secluded areas of the South American rainforest and explore the vanishing contemporary indiginous cultures of the Amazon. Discover the exceptionally beautiful handcrafted artwork and ceremonial headpieces of the remote tribes of South America in Spirits & Headhunters: Vanishing Worlds of the Amazon. With over 150 rare and extraordinary objects on display, this new exhibition offers insight into the unique cultures and traditions of the Ka’apor, Karajá, Kayapó, Tapirapé, Ticuna and other Amazonian tribes.
Spirits & Headhunters will feature artifacts such as masks, body ornaments, full body costumes, basketry, weapons, pottery, textiles, and elaborate feather headdresses.
“The intricate nature of the feather work on display is not only a testimony to the talent of the people of the Amazon; it also serves as a reminder of what once existed in Precolumbian times,” says Dirk Van Tuerenhout, curator of anthropology at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. “These pieces are an art form by themselves and are extremely rare. This puts the burden on us to make sure the collection is preserved and shared for many generations to come.”
Click Play to preview the exhibitions with Adam Mekler, associate curator of Amazonia.
Tribes and rituals represented in the exhibition: Urubu Ka’apor: Tal hupi naha, name-giving ritual Karajá: Initiation into adulthood ritual of men Tapirapé: Initiation of shamans, moieties singing contests and rituals for the dead Xingue area tribes: Kuarup rituals for the dead, initiation into adulthood of women Kayapó: Name-giving rituals Ticuna: Moca Nova, initiation into adulthood of women Shuar: The shaman's place in society Shipibo-conibo: Healing rituals, and the Ani Shreati, the annual social gathering
Headdress Kayapó-Mekragnoti Tribe
All of the components to manufacture these objects come from the forests. Perhaps the most impressive objects are the beautifully colored headdresses, containing the feathers of some 40 species of birds, gathered from the vibrant plumage of native birds including the macaw and toucan. These headdresses are used in rituals important to the lives of the Amazonian people. They are all hand-made and often worn by shaman in ceremonies such as name-giving for the young, initiation into adulthood, or harvest and healing rituals.
These diverse Amazonian tribes, which included as many as three to five million people prior to European colonization, have since been devastated by diseases and epidemics such as the measles. Their population has diminished to as few as 100,000 people, with some tribes having less than 100 members. Several tribes are on the verge of extinction; should this occur, their unique cultures will vanish entirely.
One section of the exhibit, entitled Guardians of the Forest, displays an amazing selection of photographs that show the rituals and lifestyles of these Amazonian cultures. These images complement the artifacts on display by showing us the context in which they are used. These rare images, taken by Cristina G. Mittermeier, show examples of daily life, such as fishing or women at work, as well as men wrestling and dancing. Visitors will gain a better understanding of village life among the tribes as well as ceremonial practices. To preview Mittermeier’s work, click play on the video below.
Spirits & Headhunters was organized and curated by Associate Curator Adam Mekler. Guardians of the Forest images were provided by Cristina Mittermeier.
