by Nikki Coulombe

Artwork Description

Mayan Bowl Replica Chair

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The Mayan Bowl Replica Chair: The Birth of the Maize God, 29H x 29W x 29D inches up-cycled vintage chair base, woven canvas strips, layers of plaster gradually cured, sanded and sometimes carved. Painted with acrylics, varnish, and waxed to enhance colors. Functional art, comfortable, durable Mayan society was based on an intricate system of faith in a multitude of Gods. It was expected that perfect growing conditions for crops would be granted in exchange for human sacrifice. There is speculation that cultural decline is attributed to a string of self-inflicted and circumstantial environmental catastrophes. The loss of forests due to over-extended usage, weather, floods, volcanic eruptions and other natural phenomena, and the resulting deterioration of habitats caused and a loss of the faith, population displacements, decline and eventual extinction. Great civilizations have come and gone. This chair is included in the Dancing With Trees collection with the statement that as modern society consumes, enjoys and depends upon Earth’s resources, we are as vulnerable to the very same consequences for our actions, and a flux of unpredictable cosmic events. Rather than spreading fear about predictions for our future, we only ought to heed the facts and reevaluate the purpose of our activities as one civilized planet. The original Mayan bowl’s design dates back to the Late Classic Period of Mayan history, 600 - 900 A.D. Common Era. The central portion portrays two Water Gods witnessing the birth of the omnipotent Maize God who immerges from a turtle, symbol of the earth, all floating in the “primordial soup”. Customarily, hieroglyphs written along the top rim reveal the owner's name and what the bowl was used for. Inspirational resource: Maya, Divine Kings of the Rainforest edited by Nikolai Grube ISBN 3-8290-4150

Artwork Details

Medium: Mixed Media

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