Serge Schoffel - Art Premier

The idea for this exhibition Ancient Tribal Art of the Indigenous Peoples of South America devoted to the ancient tribal art of the Indigenous peoples of South America first emerged about fifteen years ago.

The aim is to present, through both quantity and quality, an ensemble that brings together classic works as well as rare pieces, revealing the essence of a true “continent unto itself” within the world of tribal art. Just as Africa, Oceania, and North America - with the Northwest Coast, the Plains peoples, and the Inuit of the far north - are now widely recognized, South America deserves a similar place of honour.

The exhibition focuses primarily on wooden works: more than thirty different clubs and makana, masks, statuettes, and various objects such as maracas, cigar holders, shamanic staffs, stools, and more. The main regions and ethnic groups will be represented, including the Karajá, Kayapó, Tapirapé, and Tucano.

A number of rare pre-Columbian pieces enrich the collection: objects from Marajó Island in Brazil, the Timoto-Cuica of Venezuela, and the Muisca of Colombia — Indigenous peoples whose postures and adornments unmistakably affirm their identity.

Ancient Indigenous art from South America is rare. Early colonization, large population movements, and the devastating toll of epidemics brought from Europe profoundly disrupted these cultures and severely limited the survival of their artistic heritage.

Together, these objects reveal the full face of a continent still too little known for the richness of its early arts. These tribes are of striking beauty, and several large-scale photographs will highlight their unique and often overlooked humanity.