The Olmec exhibit at San Francisco's De Young Museum was lauded for the enormous heads transported from Mexico, but I found the smaller figurines much more interesting (details on this group below).
Given that the giant carvings are relatively realistic, the wild heads on these guys intrigued me. Are they aliens or the mad imaginings of some ancient shaman on peyote?
In any event, it's a great photo for a story prompt!
Offering 4 (group of standing figures and celts), Mexico, Tabasco, La Venta, 900–400 BC, Jadeite, serpentine, and an atypical stone (possibly granite). Sixteen figurines, height: 6–7 7/8 in.; six celts, height: 9 3/8–10 in. Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Mexico City. Photo: Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes–Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia–Mexico–Javier Hinojosa
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That is a very cool photo - love art like that. It definitely makes you think and wonder!! :)
ReplyDeleteJemi: Doesn't it? I love finding little treasures like this!
ReplyDeleteAliens with surfboards, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteBtw, congratulations on the catchy title. Those are harder than writing posts!
Rahma: LOL!
ReplyDeleteYes, titles are hard. I picked up some pointers from Copyblogger.com.
Those are really cool. I love Mexican art--not that I have any.
ReplyDeleteStina: At the exhibit, there was a photograph showing how the excavators found this grouping. Maybe the deceased had these for company in the afterlife?
ReplyDeleteI bet the whole exhibit is amazing. Thanks for sharing these, makes you wonder who or what they base the heads on.
ReplyDeleteCatherine: Could this be the inspiration for Gumby? ;-)
ReplyDelete