Mask. Kamayura ethnic group, Xingu, Brazil.

Mask. Kamayura ethnic group, Xingu, Brazil, mid-20th century.
Wood, vegetable fibers, pigments (genipapo).
Measurements: 28.5 x 34.5 cm; 105.5 cm (total height with fibers).

The Kamayura mask is a representative piece of the Kamayura, an indigenous people living in Xingu, in central Brazil, a region famous for its cultural diversity and the richness of its traditions. The Kamayura are part of the Tupi-Guarani linguistic group and have a rich tradition of ceremonial art that includes masks used in dances, rituals and religious festivities. Kamayura masks are carved in wood and decorated with natural dyes. Their details give them a human or supernatural appearance, depending on the context in which they are used. They are large masks, and the representation of the features is reduced to geometric strokes. The abstract shapes seek to convey power, magic or tribal identity. The vegetal fibers surrounding the masks emphasize their mythical connotation. The masks have a great symbolic charge in the Kamayura cosmovision. It is believed that the use of the masks allows the wearers to transform themselves into spiritual entities (such as animals, nature spirits or ancestors), and therefore, humans can interact with them through ritual dances.