Asmat colors

Asmat colors are white, red, and black. White comes from mussel shells that have been burned and crushed. Red comes from mud found along river banks. After baking in fire, the mud is a deep rich red. Black used on carvings and canoes comes from charcoal.

Red applied around a man’s eyes imitates the eye feathers of an angry cockatoo which brings fear to the enemy. Welcome to Asmat...

Beriten, Asmat, April 2009.