Mentawaii

Mentawai portrays an elder from the Mentawai Islands of Sumatra, home to some of the most well-preserved indigenous tribes in the world. Covered in tattoos from head to toe, these markings communicate identity, lineage, and connection to place. While deeply rooted in tradition, the villagers also navigate the modern world—trading by longboat and moving between customary life and contemporary needs.

Captured in a seated pose, the elder is attentive and vigilant, surveying the forest at night with quiet concern for the future of their community. In bronze, the sculpture conveys both the weight of responsibility and the resilience of a culture committed to continuity amidst change.