THE GUARDIANS OF LIFE
Since ancient times, the cultural ethnic groups of Africa, Asia, America, Oceania, and Europe have all had their ritual objects born from the need to seek spiritual protection or simply to honor the unknown (the immense force of nature), pay tribute to it, show respect, create rituals, and share their work with others.
In art, “globalization” is a phenomenon as old as creativity itself. When people expose their creations (seeing and being seen by other cultural groups), a symbiosis occurs an adaptive process of incorporation that absorbs and transforms what has been observed into something of their own. Each ethnic group integrates it into daily life with very particular aesthetic criteria.
If we add to this a constant redefinition due to the influences of cultural exchange, it is no surprise that from a Zulu-origin spoon with a functional purpose, the Spoon Woman Staff and Spoon Man Staff were born nurturing protectors of the family. Or that, like totems, we find the Guardian Staffs male and female, with a shamanic character, protectors of the couple and their home, rooted in African cultures. These staff embody an aesthetic concept of purity and strength; their fine, elongated lines give them a Giacometti-like appearance.
The artisans who create these pieces belong to the Wounaan family, spread across the Darién province of Panama. They are renowned for the quality of their
craftsmanship in tagua (vegetable ivory) and cocobolo wood. They carve, inspired by nature’s designs animals, plants, utilitarian objects, ritual objects, and symbols of their culture. In doing so, they emphasize the value of forests and the importance of preserving species as the only valid legacy for the survival of humanity.
Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) grows along the Pacific coasts of Central America, from Mexico to Panama. It is related to rosewood but differs in color, ranging from natural yellow and reddish hues to dark chocolate tones in its roots. Over time, its patina darkens, resulting in a uniquely beautiful finish. This wood is extremely dense and heavy.
Date:
February 25, 2025
