Kachina. Messengers of the Hopi and Zuni gods.
Somogy| N° d'inventaire | 23208 |
| Format | 25 x 28.5 |
| Détails | 191 p., numerous color illustrations, hardback with dust jacket. |
| Publication | Paris, 2011 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782757204634 |
Spirits of fire, rain, wind, the dead, mischievous, playful, or evil spirits, the Kachina are the guardian spirits of the Hopi and Zuni Indian culture of New Mexico and Arizona. Invoked during ritual festivals, these messengers of the gods use their beneficial powers to help men continue their journey through life. Embodied by masked and costumed dancers, the Kachina are also dolls intended for children who familiarize them with the Hopi liturgy. They punctuate the entire life of the Hopi, to the point that there are more than 300 effigies according to anthropologists. Often made from American poplar root, these figurines have undergone considerable typological evolution. Initially carved in geometric shapes, they gradually borrowed anatomical details from humans and were adorned over the centuries with clothing and finery. The suggestive power of Kachina dolls has fascinated Westerners. Passionate about Hopi art, Max Ernst, André Breton, Paul Éluard, Claude Lévi-Strauss, among others, built up beautiful collections. Max Ernst never got behind the wheel of his car without first carrying a Kachina doll!
Spirits of fire, rain, wind, the dead, mischievous, playful, or evil spirits, the Kachina are the guardian spirits of the Hopi and Zuni Indian culture of New Mexico and Arizona. Invoked during ritual festivals, these messengers of the gods use their beneficial powers to help men continue their journey through life. Embodied by masked and costumed dancers, the Kachina are also dolls intended for children who familiarize them with the Hopi liturgy. They punctuate the entire life of the Hopi, to the point that there are more than 300 effigies according to anthropologists. Often made from American poplar root, these figurines have undergone considerable typological evolution. Initially carved in geometric shapes, they gradually borrowed anatomical details from humans and were adorned over the centuries with clothing and finery. The suggestive power of Kachina dolls has fascinated Westerners. Passionate about Hopi art, Max Ernst, André Breton, Paul Éluard, Claude Lévi-Strauss, among others, built up beautiful collections. Max Ernst never got behind the wheel of his car without first carrying a Kachina doll!