Exploring his artistic curiosity for cultural beliefs and rituals that transcend the physical domain, Robert Powell documented the shamanistic culture of the Magars in Western Nepal. One of the oldest known tribes in Nepal, the Magars follow Buddhism, Bon and Hinduism. However, their original religions/beliefs are Shamanism, Animism, Ancestor worship.
One of Robert’s most striking Magar paintings portrays the initiation of a female shaman who meditated all night on a makeshift perch constructed from just a few fragile-looking branches bound to a pole high above her village. Robert’s other works focused on the drums, amulets, drumsticks and other ritual tools shamans used to mesmerise and transport those people embarking on a ritual journey with them.
The Magars wear traditional ornaments such as the madwari on the ears, bulaki on the nose and the phuli on the left nostril, the silver coin necklace” [haari]” and the pote (yellow and green beads) with the tilhari gold cylinder, [jantar], [dhungri], [naugedi], [phul] and kuntha. Magar males do not wear many ornaments, but some do have silver earrings called “gokkul”. The Magar girls wear an amulet or locket-type necklace, and women of the lower hills and the high-altitude ones wear examples made of silver with muga stones embedded in them and Kantha. Bangles made from silver and glass are also worn on their hands, along with the sirbandhi, sirphuli and Chandra on their heads which are large pieces of gold beaten in elongated and circular shapes.
These drawings, paintings and images are not for sale.
© 2021 Robert Powell & Lieve Aerts Powell
All photos and art courtesy of the artist
Purchase & shipping information | Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply
