BOOKS PILAT 142 With the publication of this work by Bertrand Goy, the “Red Island” fi nally has a book that is a fi tting tribute to the wealth and originality of the artistic traditions that have developed there. The island of Madagascar, which lies in the Indian Ocean and is separated from the African continent by the Mozambique Channel, is exceptional in many respects: its geography; its many endemic species of fl ora and fauna, and the hybrid nature of its population, which has resulted from successive migrations from the Near East and Asia. An account of Madagascar’s uniqueness could not really be given using any conventional means, and this book takes a very unique approach based on a profound knowledge of the place, where the author lived for an extended period of time, and on his archival research and inventory work on objects of all kinds (funerary sculptures, amulets and charms, posts, textiles, etc.) in private and institutional collections, the most beautiful of which appear in the superb photographs of this book. Four more titles to remember from 2015 ARTS ANCIENS DE MADAGASCAR By Bertrand Goy Published in French by 5 continents Éditions 24.5 x 34 cm, hardcover, 320 pages, 200 illustrations MYTH + MAGIC Art of the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea By Crispin Howarth, in collaboration with Barry Craig and Natalie Wilson Published in English by the National Gallery of Australia 20.5 x 28.5 cm, softcover, 232 pages, more than 130 illustrations This book accompanied the eponymous exhibition and expands upon its themes. Crispin Howarth’s mastery of the subject matter, in situ research, and extensive knowledge of Australian museum collections enabled him to produce a work of great value to experts and novices alike. The book is divided into two complementary parts, and its elegant layout makes it accessible and a pleasure to read. The fi rst part examines the last two centuries of the history of the Sepik River region, the collecting of objects, and the market for them, as well as the contexts in which these objects were created. The second part is a catalog of the works exhibited, arranged by geographic location and cultural origin, each presented with informative and descriptive commentaries. A number of black-and-white fi eld photographs punctuate the book and shed additional light on the ways in which the objects were used and on the cultural environment that prevailed in the societies that produced them.
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