This temporary exhibit in the Amsterdam Tropenmuseum presents a collection of 58 Bisj Poles. The wood sculptures, some more than 12 meters high, were made by the Asmat people from Papua, Indonesia. In the museum’s Light Hall, a “magic forest” of Bisj poles is surrounded by a large cloth with projections of Asmat people and fragments of the Bisj ceremony. The visitor can investigate the unique sculptures from a very close distance. The poles tell the stories and heroic deeds of the ancestors, while a 30-minute theatrical performance of documentary clips and authentic sound bites, combined with a light game of colors and shadows, brings the Bisj poles to life.

“A beautiful and poignant exhibition of artifacts that immerses and transports the viewer into a dynamic and dramatic rainforest environment.”

–Belinda Stening, publisher and editor, Curve magazine (Australia)

Contact: Jikke Vermeulen: [email protected] Credit: Design Team Kossmann.dejong (Netherlands) Client: Tropenmuseum Amsterdam (Netherlands)