storyboard
- Museum number
- Oc1987,03.1
- Title
- Object: Storyboard with 'bai' and bridge
- Description
-
Storyboard of wood, paint. Depicts a bridge with ascending figures: on the left a man (all male figures in red loincloths) approaches holding a fish, with four female figures wearing red skirts with black waistbands and holding red bowls of taro; in the centre two figures face each other holding black circular objects; three male figures ascend from the right, holding red paddles. Under the bridge are two red canoes, each with three male figures holding paddles, and separated by a small island with two trees. Below the canoes are five fish and one turtle. Either side of the bridge are two large palms. To the right of the bridge are two bai (houses) painted in yellow, black, red, white and brown, with a yellow sun and and a red bird above. On background of black.
- Production date
- January 1987
- Dimensions
-
Height: 25.50 centimetres
-
Length: 85.50 centimetres
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Depth: 3 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Information from Pacific Art in Detail: The carving of storyboards began in Palau in the 1930s, in an attempt to revive traditional painted woodcarving. This artform had been associated with the interiors of traditonal men's houses (bai), where the horizontal beams and gable ends were painted with mythical, historical and humorous stories.
This is a copy of a storyboard that the artist made for the Belau Museum.
On this carved painting, Ngiraibuuch Skedong has depicted a scene of early Belauan life, with women carrying taro towards the 'bai' - depicted with their distinctive peak roofs and painted facades on the right-hand side of the board - being met by men carrying fish. These are the traditionnal accepted roles: women provide staple plant foods, men provide fish and other meats.
Recently, carvers have been creating unpainted storyboard or varnished woods that tourists have assumed as more 'authentic'. Painted boards are therefore harder to find.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- A few insect-bored holes along the top edge and on back, 9.07.07.
- Acquisition date
- 1987
- Acquisition notes
- Collection made in the field by the vendor in 1986-7.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Oc1987,03.1