Art is of central importance in Matsés culture and identity. Their artistic process is incredibly fine and detailed, made evident through their daily items.
In particular, the art of ceramics for the Matsés is a purely female practice and a vital piece of ancestral memory, now only practiced by a handful of Matsés women throughout their territory.
The pottery making process involves a particular type of whitish clay that is collected from the bed of a small stream outside of the village, and strips of bark that are peeled from a tree called “mui”. Once back in the village, the “mui” bark is burnt and then the silvery ash is sifted into a fine powder and mixed with the clay. This mixture is then rolled and constructed using the traditional coil technique as the ceramics take their form. The ceramic is then shaped with the shell of a freshwater clam and then smoothed on the outside with the coin-shaped seed of a liana which the Matsés call “pupu ëshë”,“owl eye." Finally, it is dried in the sun for a few hours before placing on the open fire to set.
Dimensions (approximate): 9cm x 6cm / 10cm x 10cm
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Art is of central importance in Matsés culture and identity. They have an incredibly fine and detailed artistic process and these items are used in their everyday lives. If this ancestral wisdom continues to thrive, so can the cultural identity of the Matsés.
