Mola
Artist/Maker
Guna people
(Guna Yala, Panama)
Dateca. 1950
Mediumdyed cotton and thread
DimensionsOverall: 12 7/8 x 17 in. (32.7 x 43.2 cm)
ClassificationsCostumes and Accessories
Credit LineGift of Candice Barrs
Terms
Object number94.0014.43
DescriptionThe mirrored and symmetrical pair of parrots depicted in this mola may represent another form of expression of the duality of all living things, or could also relate to the idea of metamorphosis. In Guna myths and cosmology, all beings can change from one form to another. For instance, an ordinary being can become a demon and vice versa. The mirror image of the parrots may represent the ordinary and demonic duality of the spirit. Parrots from the region may have inspired the artist or her design may stem from the Guna tradition that people are birds. A common belief is that when a Guna person decides to leave their home, they are transformed into a different bird because the experiences they encounter change the songs they sing.On View
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