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The geometric designs used in the decoration
of the body, ceramics, gourds and other items of Asurini
material culture comprise a system of graphic art, with
its own grammar and the contents of which are related
to different systems of meaning. These designs are stylizations
of elements of nature, as well as representations of
supernatural beings or symbolic elements such as Anhynga
kwasiat (the mythical being who gave the design to men)
and i (the doll used in shamanic rituals and which also
means “image”, “model”, “replica
of the human being”) respectively. The first motif
also appears in the design made by the men, used in
the decoration of cerimonial bows and body decorations.
There are various stylized elements from nature: intertwined
lianas in the forest (kapuenwi), large bean (kumandaoho),
turtle foot (dzawotsipa(*p)era), monkey tail (kaiwarinhyna),
honeycomb (ehiraimbawa) and the occipital part of the
painted jaguar (d(*z)awara(*z)orywa), for example.
There are design motifs that bear the name of
the surfaces to which they are applied: tamaki(*z)oak
(leg painting), kuaipei (head designs), d(*z)a´ek(~y)
(head of the d(*z)a´é, name for one of
the pieces of ceramics on the border of which this decorative
motif is used). The labial ornament called Tembekwara
is also stylized, the design representing one of its
parts, the name of which is given to the motif: tembekwá
reropitá.
In body decorations, the meaning of this artistic
manifestation is related to the social categorization
of individuals. The motifs for painting are common to
both sexes. The division of the body as a criterion for
distribution of the designs, nevertheless, differs according
to sex. Among the women, the womb is marked by a design
that divides the front part of the body in two, vertically.
Among the men, this division is made horizontally, that
is, following the same division of tattoos: the design
on the shoulders (d(*z)etii´iwapawa) and horizontal
lines, from shoulder to shoulder, delimit the upper part
which is not painted. Tattooing marks, in the men, their
participation in the activities of war and, in the women,
the phases of biological and social development. |
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