Bukwus - Wild Man, haunting expression, outstanding quality piece of art by Sean Whonnock

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Bukwus - Wild Man, haunting expression, outstanding quality piece of art by Sean Whonnock

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Please read the story of this mask below, and then look at this face…

Absolutely incredible craftsmanship, true Indigenous art, red cedar, fully hand carved and hand painted by Sean Whonnock, a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation from Alert Bay, a small island off the Pacific Northwest Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

LARGE Bukwus - Wild Man

Authentic and signed, direct from the artist. True and traditional Indigenous art at it’s best. Sean is so incredibly talented. The face is very vibrant, such a rich expression. Superb work. He clearly spent a lot of time, many months he told me, before this came to life. Adorned with black and white horse hair. 2 wooden, hand carved skulls on top. Also, please look the back or inside of the mask, it's fully finished, you can clearly see the knife marks - again, proof of great quality. 

Bukwus, Wild Man - story as told by Sean Whonnock:

Bukwus, a drowned spirit washes up on the beach, then stumbles around, exhausted, finally reaching the woods and walking into it. He meets a native man who is feeding him with slugs and bugs to strengthen him and bring him back to live. Bukwus grows really tall, at least 7-8 ft. tall.

He keeps wandering through the forest, following old trails from the ancestors which are leading him all the way to the top of the mountain. There, the spirits of the dead are trapped and buried in shallow grounds, sometimes even above grounds. When it was a higher Chief or someone of high statue, he was sometimes even buried high up in the tree. Bukwus keeps stumbling around, stomping through the mountain and when he does, skulls are surfacing from the shallow grounds, so he collects them. That’s why the skulls are shown on the Bukwus’ head.

This story and Sean’s carving is highly influenced by Beau Dick.

Measurements: 17" tall, 16" wide, 8" deep

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Each piece we show is the original and it is the piece you will receive

Note: Invoice in CAD, display of USD is for information only, based on a regularly updated exchange rate, shipping within one business day.

Photos of This Piece

Authentic Indigenous art, hand carved Northwest Coast native American art from the Pacific Coast of Canada, signed, direct from artistthe artist: Sean WhonnockAuthentic Indigenous art, hand carved Northwest Coast native American art from the Pacific Coast of Canada, signed, direct from artistAuthentic Indigenous art, hand carved Northwest Coast native American art from the Pacific Coast of Canada, signed, direct from artistAuthentic Indigenous art, hand carved Northwest Coast native American art from the Pacific Coast of Canada, signed, direct from artistAuthentic Indigenous art, hand carved Northwest Coast native American art from the Pacific Coast of Canada, signed, direct from artistAuthentic Indigenous art, hand carved Northwest Coast native American art from the Pacific Coast of Canada, signed, direct from artistAuthentic Indigenous art, hand carved Northwest Coast native American art from the Pacific Coast of Canada, signed, direct from artistAuthentic Indigenous art, hand carved Northwest Coast native American art from the Pacific Coast of Canada, signed, direct from artistAuthentic Indigenous art, hand carved Northwest Coast native American art from the Pacific Coast of Canada, signed, direct from artist

$5,880.00 CDN

$4,322.39 USD

About This Artist

Sean Whonnock (Wanukw "River owner"), a member of the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) Nation was born in Alert Bay, a small fishing village near Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada’s Pacific Northwest. He is working in wood, canvas, stone,...Artist bio and other available works »

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