"Slit Gongs", Canberra, Australia - Outside Wooden Display Carvings on Waymarking.com

One of 26 sculptures in the sculpture garden - these pieces were created by Willy Tasso and other unknown artists in Vanuatu, circa 1970 from the islands of Ambryn and Malekula. They are made of wood and pigment and were purchased by the National Gallery of Australia in 1972 and 1974.

The towering slit gongs of northern Vanuatu are among the largest musical instruments in the world. Found primarily on Ambrym, Malekula, and neighboring islands, they are carved from the trunks of breadfruit trees, which are also an important food source. In each village, a number of gongs, comprising a sort of informal orchestra, stand on the village dancing ground. Gong orchestras are played at major social and religious events such as initiations, funerals, and dances. When playing, the musician stands in front of the gong and strikes the lip of the slit with a clublike wooden beater. As the gong ensemble is played, rhythms of immense variety and complexity can be produced by the carefully coordinated actions of multiple drummers.

Type of wood carving: Other Other type: Musical instrument Artist's Name: Willy Tasso and unknown artists Approximate size/height: approx 6 - 12 feet Type of wood: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/10/2022 Aussiebrian visited it 04/28/2013 Cankid visited it 10/16/2010 2BluFish visited it 11/14/2009 Everlasting visited it 08/01/2008 mtbikeroz visited it

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