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Sexual Selection and Severed Heads
Australian anthropologist Michael Heppel spent years living among the Iban people, and some of the fruits of his research are presented here, along with contributions by two outstanding Iban artists. Art is a key signifier of ability and prestige among the many Dayak peoples of inland Borneo, and artistry is often closely linked to fertility, both figuratively on a cosmological level and literally in the selection of mates. Heppel engages humorous storytelling and scholarly expertise to give context to that artwork under discussion. The text is peppered with fine illustrations, mostly of weavings but also featuring sculptures, tattoos, artists at work, and performances, making this book both beautiful and educational. Collectors, scholars, and the curious of mind will all find it an asset.
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