USC Pacific Asia Museum Docent Training

1. Allan Roman Reyes
10/06/2015
Introductory Gallery, left side of Entrance
Ancestor Figure
Label Information
Object Name: Ancestor Figure
Material or Medium: Wood, pigment
Date created: 20th century
Country or Region of Origin: New Guinea; Sepik River
Location in gallery: Introductory Gallery
Why was the object created? Ancestor worship is a large part of Sepik River belief
and visual totems provide continuity between generations.
What do you want the students to learn? I want them to see that their realities may
differ from another’s due to culture but connections to simple beliefs remain.
How does this object make you feel? Does it make you feel like it is watching over
you if you look at it a certain way? Things you see in this museum were looked at
different ways by their creators. Some were looked at with love and with reverence.
Who knows what reverence means? It is a deep respect for someone or
something. Remember that term when you walk through some of these rooms and
you will actually feel what the makers felt when looking upon some of these objects.
Now try thinking of this piece of wood as a grandfather or maybe an uncle watching
over you. Do you see how just associating this piece of wood with someone makes
you think of it differently? Can you describe something in your world now that may
reflect this piece and belief?