Ethnological Collections: Oceania's People and The Sea
The Ethnologisches Museum and Museum für Asiatische Kunst of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin showcase a diverse collection of over 20,000 objects from Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. The exhibits are spread across 16,000 square meters, offer a glimpse into the past and present cultures of these regions.
exhibition, collections
Ground Floor, Schlüter Courtyard, Humboldt Forum
The new presentation of the collections was developed in collaboration with communities from the various regions of the world. This ensures that the objects are presented in a way that is respectful of their cultural significance. The presentation also raises important questions about the origin of the objects, the conditions under which they were collected, and the effects of colonialism up to the present day.
Artist Bill Reid was captivated by a nineteenth-century Haida canoe in a museum and decided to build one himself to learn about the traditional production process. He aimed to reconstruct the knowledge about this particular art form, which had been at the heart of Haida culture for centuries but had largely been forgotten in the wake of the culture ban (decreed in the 1876 Indian Act). The Loo Taas (Wave Eater), a canoe more than 15 metres long and fit for the high seas, was built from an 800-year-old red cedar for the Expo 86 in Vancouver.
After the Expo, the Loo Taas was paddled northwards up the coast, stopping to visit communities all along the traditional trade routes. The building of this canoe and the journey it took revived the knowledge and pride associated with the Haida way of life for future generations. Today, it stands in the Haida Gwaii Museum and is still used in ceremonies and other traditional activities and is an important object of cultural identity for the Haida. The first canoe built by Bill Reid was kept by his family and is now displayed here.
Bill Reid Nineteenth-Century Haida Canoe
Oceania: People and Sea
Polynesia's indigenous peoples share a common ancestry, as evidenced by their languages and history. Their societies were hierarchical until the 19th century, with hereditary nobles and rulers holding power. Some kingdoms, such as Hawai'i and Tonga, were centralized, while others, like New Zealand, had less centralized political structures. Rulers were believed to be of divine descent and acted as intermediaries between gods, deified ancestors, and humans.
They possessed a power called mana that could give or take life and ensured the well-being of their people through sacrifices, ceremonies, and tributes. Mana could manifest in people or objects temporarily and could increase or decrease in strength. When something was imbued with mana, it was considered tapu or sacred and off-limits. A ruler's power depended on their ability to maintain and increase their mana.
Large boat from Luf Island (Papua New Guinea), Program Oceania: Man and the Sea. Ethnology Museum at the Humboldt Forum
The outrigger boat from Luf Island is a testament to the resilience of the Luf people. In 1882, the island was attacked by the German Navy, and the population was decimated. But eight years later, the Luf people began building a new boat, a symbol of their hope for the future. The boat was intended to be used to bury their recently deceased leader, Labenan, at sea. But the population was still too small to launch the enormous boat. And so, it remained in the boathouse, a reminder of the island's past and a symbol of its future.
In 1903, the boat was acquired by Max Thiel von Hernsheim & Co. and sold to the Ethnological Museum in Berlin. The circumstances of the acquisition are not documented, but the boat is now a cherished part of the museum's collection. The story of the outrigger boat from Luf Island is a reminder of the power of resilience. Even in the face of great adversity, the Luf people were able to rebuild their lives and their community. And the boat, a symbol of their hope, continues to inspire people today.
Divinity in Polynesia
The Humboldt Forum's "Divinity in Polynesia" exhibit explores the relationship between objects, people, and deities in Polynesian cultures. In these societies, rulers were considered to be of divine origin and were responsible for the health, success, and prosperity of their people. They were honored with offerings, ceremonies, and tributes.
One of the most impressive objects in the exhibit is a feather cloak from Hawai'i. These cloaks were made by attaching thousands of feathers to a kind of fishing net, and they were worn by high-ranking people on ceremonial occasions. They were a symbol of the ruler's power and divinity, and they were often exchanged as gifts to establish important relationships.
The feather cloak in the Humboldt Forum was gifted to King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia by King Kamehameha III of Hawai'i in 1828. In return, the Prussian king sent Kamehameha III a guard's uniform, a portrait of himself, and other gifts. This exhibit provides a fascinating glimpse into the religious and cultural practices of Polynesian cultures. It shows how objects were used to connect people with the gods and to establish relationships between rulers and their subjects.
More Than a Roof Over One's Head
The houses of Oceania are a diverse and fascinating collection of structures, each with its own unique history and purpose. They are built using a variety of techniques, depending on the materials available and the traditions of the local community. Oceanic houses also serve as important social and cultural centers. They are often used for ceremonies, celebrations, and gatherings. They can also be symbols of wealth and status. On the island of Palau, meeting houses and treasure houses are a visible sign of their owners' wealth and status. These houses are often built using the most expensive materials and decorated with elaborate carvings.
Thatched roofs: Thatched roofs are a common feature of traditional Oceanic houses. Made of dried leaves or grass, they provide excellent insulation.
They are also used to store valuable objects, such as shell money and ceremonial artifacts. In the Maprik area of Papua New Guinea, cult houses represent a part of the cosmos into which young men are inducted during their initiation. These houses are often built in the shape of a bird or a snake, and they are decorated with symbols of the spirit world. The houses of Oceania are a rich and varied testament to the ingenuity and creativity of the people who built them. They are a reminder of the importance of community and tradition, and they continue to play an important role in the lives of people throughout the region.
IMAGES: Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss Collections
PHOTO CREDIT: © RAZVAN CHIOREAN g a l l e r y
PHOTO: Razvan Chiorean
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