Mourning Strings - Limited Edition Etching on Paper

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We have many rituals associated with death. Some are very old and traditional, others reflect our exposure to Torres Strait Islander and Christian rituals. Close relatives of a rec ently deceased person wear strings on their upper body to signify they are in mourning. Members of the deceased's family make the strings shortly after the death. In the old days, a widow stayed out in the bush with a few members of her family during the mourning period. She was isolated from the rest of her clan group for a couple months. Every couple of days she painted herself with black charcoal or white ochre depending on her clan affiliation. A sister or brother might sit with her and paint up too. The widow did not bathe during the period of mourning /seclusion. Her brother or sister brought crabs, catfish and yams for her to eat. Artist: Mavis Benjamin Limited Edition Etching on Paper 32 x 49 cm Price includes postage within Australia Show more