Moai Sculpture Souvenir (Mini Replica)

Unknown, ca. 2008-2009

Volcanic Stone, local Easter Island Red Stone

Dimensions variable

Purchased from Easter Island artist, 2009

Personal collection

This object is a small scale replica of the Moai sculptures found off the coast of the South American country of Chile. More specifically these “Big heads” are located in Valparaíso, Chile (commonly known as Easter Island). This item speaks to the centuries old Moai sculptures found there.. Today, these forms and their replicas offer a great source of income for the country, and is still relevant to their ancestral roots. They also continue to generate wonder amongst many generations now and those to come.

This souvenir object, although just over a decade old, holds a lot of importance and cultural significance to the people of Easter Island. The Moai sculptures that reside there remain one of the longest standing mysteries, tied to both their creation and meaning. These sculptures are a part of the ancient Rapa Nui civilization. There are hundreds of abandoned “moais” scattered around the island. The most recognized large scale pieces can be found in the main quarry called Rano Raraku. The original large scale forms this miniature is based on were created as early as 1250 A.D. and through to 1500 A.D. These sculptures average 10 meters in height and 80 tons in weight. They were not always this big but after constant refinement, the Polynesian sculptors mastered the art of making them.

A major misconception of these structures is that they are just heads. However, this is due to the fact that most have sunken into the earth (at least partially) since their creation. They are in fact full statues imitating the form of men or deified ancestors that these people would have worshipped. Monolithic and minimalistic in both styling and expression, these structures are made out of a rock called tuff. This is an extremely fragile rock sediment that with constant weathering and rainfall, which the island experiences, shrinks and disappears,

As travel is limited currently, our access to such monuments around the world are inevitably affected. While representations such as this miniature have traditionally served as souvenirs, today they gain significance as all of our encounters with remote locations will be mediated - whether in the form of virtual access or physical replicas. At the same time, however, the absence of tourists offers further protection, pausing their deterioration as we have seen in the impact of the virus on environments globally.

Clara James