So we blindly listened (non-sequitur) to contemporary-art-diva-with-a-potty-mouth Marie Boisseau and headed for to the Louvre this afternoon to see the exhibit The myth of origins, from Hercules to Darth Vador (Mythes fondateurs. D’Hercule à Dark Vador). It’s a small exhibit that ends in a cul-de-sac, but then leads you to other parts of the museum. Of course, 10-year-old SuperChicken was into it because of the Star Wars reference… And guess who turns out to be the primordial mother, who nourishes the living and brings forth the earth? A crocodile, bien sûr!
Cette sculpture représente la mère primordiale qui nourrit les vivants et fait jaillir la terre. L’artiste a donné à ce grand crocodile une forme proche de la réalité, soulignant la puissance de l’animal tout en montrant son côté protecteur. (Culture iatmul, Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, 20e siècle. Bois, pigments)
This is a sculpture of the primordial mother, who nourishes the living and brings forth the earth. The artist has given this large crocodile a near-realistic shape, accentuating its power while displaying its protective side. (Iatmul culture, Papua New Guinea, 20th century. Wood, pigments.)