Indigenous Christmas Images

Please Note: All posts on this blog are intended for informational purposes only, not as an evaluation or endorsement of any artist, art form, organization or website.  If you have concerns about the accuracy of any information presented please contact the author at hmsarthistorian@gmail.com.

Here are a few examples of indigenous nativity art from from around the world to enjoy on this Christmas Day.

Photo: © Karen Elwell 2013

Engraved tree gourd from Pinotepa de Don Luis, Oaxaca. This is the work of master carver Antonio Guzman Hernandez.

Storyboard depicting Nativity, Keram River, Papua New Guinea

Mawalan Marika (1908-67), Nativity. C. 1964. 

Martina Parry, Nativity. 1993.

Aboriginal Stained glass window located in New Norcia, WA

Indigenous Art for Epiphany

Happy Epiphany and 2014 to everyone!  I hope you've had/are having a blessed Christmas season.  Epiphany is "a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. Western Christians commemorate principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Baby Jesus, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to the Gentiles. Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God" (Wikipedia).  The Magi have long fascinated me, so for today's post I thought I'd share a few examples of indigenous depictions of the Magi's visit to honor the Christ child, which haven't been featured yet on this blog. Two other recent examples I've posted are my Christmas Day post and this image.  Enjoy!

Wise Men from the East by Iranian painter Hossein Behzad (1894 –1968)

Annunciation - Mehndi Style by Marcia Carole

Here is artist/missionary Marcia Carole's latest beautiful design in her mehndi Christmas card series, which will be available for purchase at her blog:

Annunciation, pen and ink, watercolor by Marcia Carole

She writes:

For this piece, I began with fiery watercolor yellows. Heaven has come to earth! (The rescue mission for mankind has begun!) I have used large flowers for Mary, suggesting she is a virgin, along with a typical Indian dupatta. She shows surprise in her face at this news because she has not been with a man. I have portrayed Gabriel as a creature who is powerfully breaking through into earth from heaven. I have used many mehndi symbols and forms in Gabriel's attire in order to portray the concept of rich other-worldliness. I have also suggested the presence of the Holy Spirit through the dove woven into Gabriel's attire.

Mehndi-style Nativity by Marcia Carole

The Nativity, pen and ink, watercolor by Marcia Carole

Artist/missionary Marcia Carole is working on a series of watercolor and mehndi Christmas cards based on her travels in India and study of mehndi/henna designs.  Above is the first one of the series, The Nativity.  She writes,

I am working on a series of watercolor and mehndi Christmas cards. I jumped right in with creating the nativity scene. Some of the piece developed around the flow of the watercolor. I used lots of flowering lotus blossoms representing the flowering of God's plan to recuse us through Jesus. I tried to also portray a cave, the barn of sorts, for the setting, and the unusual star assigned to mark the spot where the savior arrived.

The Nativity is beautiful and I can't wait to see the others in the series!  Check out her blog for future images and ordering info.  You can also order 11x14 giclee prints of her other recent mehndi painting, God's Story:

God's Story, acrylic on canvas, by Marcia Carole

Nativity by Australian Aboriginal artist Duwun Lee

This Christmas image is by Australian Aboriginal artist Duwun Lee, and it appears in a set of 2012 Indigenous Catholic Christmas Cards for sale here by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC).

As I continue to research on a post related to Ethiopian art, here's a lovely Christmas image from that country.  I'll try to post some more nonwestern Christmas images before the big day arrives.