Moko (Lizard Figure)
From one of the most remote locations on earth, this figure fusing a lizard and man is thought to have served as a guardian at entrances to sacred sites. A skink lizard found on the island inspired the artist to create a sleek and slippery body, which is merged with human hands and spine. Rapa Nui, a volcanic island in the southeast Pacific, is home to a culture that erected astonishing stone monuments that continue to be a source of fascination.
Wood, shell, and stone
21 3/8 x 2 7/8 x 2 3/4 in. (54.29 x 7.3 x 6.99 cm)
Gift of Katherine White and the Boeing Company
81.17.1423
Photo: Elizabeth Mann