Research - The Kwakiutl

• The Kwakiutl are an North American Indian indigenous tribe, they have many beliefs and rituals based around super natural animal spirits.
• Demonic birds, Ghosts, Grizzlies, Wolves and other creatures where all supernatural spirits that would be represented by the tribes using carved wooden masks and sculptures.

• The masks and carvings represented kinship, demonstrating different ranks and privileges amongst the tribes.
• But most importantly it was a way that the tribe could connect themselves to the distant time when the world was ruled by animals.
• The eagle is a very highly respected animal, because it flies higher than the clouds - they believed it was 'in touch with the heavens' and 'In control of the elements'.
• I find it really interesting seeing how they represent and symbolise the different animals using the bold and colourful carvings, it interesting to see how they interpret the animals with the striking caricatures that are full of different shapes and pattern. 
• I think abstracting and characterising the animals is a good way of demonstrating higher power and wisdom to the animals.
• I want to approach my designs in a similar way to this, I like the idea of creating my own animal totems - and representing them through personalised shapes like they did.