April 13, 1999 – January 16, 2000
The first American exhibition devoted exclusively to the Kenyah-Kayan art of central Borneo will open at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on April 13, 1999. With loans from museums and private collectors nationwide, Guardians of the Longhouse: Art in Borneo will feature more than 60 works exploring the theme of the supernatural and physical defense of the longhouse community in Kenyah-Kayan art. Dating from the classic period of Borneo art, from the late 19th to the early 20th century, works in the exhibition — many of which have never been displayed before — range from robust wooden figures and architectural sculpture to delicately carved items of personal adornment.
Philippe de Montebello, Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, stated: "Guardians of the Longhouse is an example of the Metropolitan's continuing commitment to exhibit works of excellence from all the peoples of the world. Though created to repel evil spirits, this superb collection of works from Borneo cannot fail to attract those interested in experiencing their creators' artistic achievement."
More about Borneo
Borneo, the third largest island in the world after Greenland and New Guinea, is divided among the three countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, and the oil-rich sultanate of Brunei. While the coastal population is largely Islamic, the thickly forested interior is home to Borneo's indigenous peoples, known collectively as "Dayaks." Living at the very heart of the island, the Kenyah-Kayan and related groups are Borneo's most accomplished Dayak artists. Emerging from the rainforest, their vibrant art is characterized by a sinuous blending of plant and animal forms that often resembles the art of the Celtic and Viking periods in Europe. Kenyah-Kayan artists work primarily in wood but also employ such exotic materials as clouded leopard skin, hornbill ivory, and Italian glass beads.
The Longhouse
Much of Kenyah-Kayan imagery is intended to protect the community from the supernatural and human enemies which threaten the village longhouse. Essentially a village under a single roof, Kenyah-Kayan longhouses are up to 300 yards long and are divided into individual apartments set along a central corridor that serves as a main "street."
Both sexes participate in the ritual and artistic life of the longhouse community. Men produce carvings and weapons while women create beadwork and textiles. Among the most impressive works in the exhibition are the 19th-century wooden guardian figures, depicting dog/dragon-like creatures known as aso (mythical beings which repel disease and evil influences from the longhouse), and a group of monstrous masks used to frighten malevolent spirits that threaten the rice crop. On a more intimate scale are exquisite ear ornaments of hornbill ivory, also depicting aso. A striking form of women's art is the elaborate beadwork appliqué created for baby carriers. Hung with powerful amulets and wrapped in protective beadwork imagery, baby carriers both protect the child from malevolent influences and serve as status symbols.
Education Programs
In conjunction with the exhibition, the Metropolitan Museum will offer a variety of educational programs and resources, including a series of lectures, gallery talks, and films designed to inform the visitor on the significance and diversity of Borneo's artistic traditions.
Lenders to the Exhibition
Institutional lenders to the exhibition are: Fowler Museum of Cultural History, Los Angeles; University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia; Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago; Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas; and American Museum of Natural History, New York. Private lenders include the Karob Collection and Dashow Collection of Boston.
The exhibition is organized by Eric Kjellgren, Research Assistant in the Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.
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January 11, 1999
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