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Une peinture biwat 127 is a red disc that evokes the sun. The sinuous designs that surround him, like those on the upper panel with a light background, are an evocation of thorny Pandanus leaves and of seeds floating in aquatic foam. The uppermost panel represents a malevolent spirit and his double. Two totemic birds are represented at the bottom, the righthand one being a cassowary. This type of painting was produced when a maternal uncle wished to honor the initiation of one of his nephews. It had to be erected above a rattan crocodile (fig. 2), whose head emerged through the front, peering out from between the two panels painted with bird designs. Large quantities of offerings, particularly yams, were placed inside the rattan model crocodile. The whole construction was lavishly decorated with colorful vegetation and flowers, and the entire community came to dance and express its joy during a great celebration that could last for several days. It is unfortunate that this unique work had to be removed from display two years after it was erected. This was necessitated by conservation reasons having to do with its extreme fragility. One can hope that when the last missing panel, which depicts a bird that was located at the painting’s base, is finally found, it might again be possible to display the work in its full former splendor. NOTES 1. Village chief designated by the colonial authorities. 2. For additional details, see C. Coiffier, “L’étrange voyage d’une peinture du Sépik de Kinakatem à Paris,” in Le journal des Océanistes, no. 116, year 2003-1, pp. 77–97. The sketch mentioned here appears on page 85. 3. . 1961 Hotel Drouot auction catalog, Collection Océanienne du Voyage de La Korrigane 1934–1936. Auctioneers Maurice and Philippe Rheins, with the assistance of Jean Roudillon, December 4–5, 1961. 4. Cf. Paris-Drouot Richelieu auction catalog, Océanie, Provenant du Voyage de La Korrigane 1934–1936 et à Divers Amateurs. Auctioneers Audap-Godeau-Solanet, with the assistance of Jean Roudillon. 5. Cf. Exhibition catalog, C. Coiffier, Le voyage de la Korrigane dans les mers du Sud, Paris, Hazan/Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 2001: 202–203. FIG. 6: Sketch showing the painting’s twenty-five components. Published in the Journal of the Society of Oceanists, 2003, p. 85, fig. 7. Drawing © Christian Coiffier. FIG. 7 (upper right): Scaffolding used to reassemble the elements of the painting in the permanent installation of the Musée du Quai Branly shortly before its inauguration in 2006. Photo © Christian Coiffier. FIG. 8 (right): The painting installed flat on the floor as part of the La Korrigane dans les Mers du Sud exhibition at the Musée de l’Homme, 2001. Photo © Christian Coiffier. FIG. 9 (far right): Placing the painting’s top element in the installation at the Musée du Quai Branly. Photo © Christian Coiffier. SEARCH NOTICE: The missing panel depicts a bird looking to its left. It was sold at the Hotel Droûot in December of 1961 and acquired by Jean Roudillon for a collector who remains unknown. Anyone having information about the disposition or whereabouts of the painting is asked to contact the publisher of this magazine. Drawing © Christian Coiffier".


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