Zo’é: The Circle Of Life

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux Collection

Zo’é People, Brazilian Amazon (Rio Cuminapanema Valley)

20th century

An important ethnographic collection bringing together three complementary examples of the material and social culture of the Zo’é people of the Brazilian Amazon, from the collection of Jean-Pierre Dutilleux.

The collection consists of:

• a large lower-lip labret (poturu) carved from wood;
• a baby-carrying hammock made of wild cotton dyed with urucum;
• a documentary photograph presented during the exhibition *Le Monde Premier*.

Rarely does a collection so coherently capture several essential dimensions of life within a single community.

The poturu, an emblem of Zo’é identity, is gradually introduced from a very young age and accompanies the individual throughout their life until adulthood. Its increasing diameter reflects the individual’s gradual integration into the group and the attainment of recognized social status.

This large specimen features a deep patina, an aged natural polish, and signs of wear consistent with prolonged use. Its extreme formal simplicity gives it a striking sculptural presence that at times evokes contemporary minimalist works.

The baby-carrying hammock, made of wild cotton that was woven and then dyed with urucum, is a particularly moving testament to family life among the Zo’é. Intended for carrying infants during trips through the forest, it perfectly illustrates the ingenuity and adaptability of Amazonian peoples to their environment.

Its spectacular red color, achieved using urucum, enhances its visual impact and aesthetic appeal.

The documentary photography featured in the exhibition *Le Monde Premier* complements this collection by placing these objects within their human and cultural context.

The collection thus transcends the mere status of ethnographic objects to become a true visual narrative dedicated to the identity, cultural transmission, and daily life of the Zo’é.

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PROVENANCE

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux Collection

Collected and documented during fieldwork conducted among the Zo’é in the Brazilian Amazon.

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PUBLICATIONS

Reproduced in the reference work:

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, TRIBES – The First People, Éditions Vilo.

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EXHIBITION

Le Monde Premier – Belgium, 2018

An exhibition photograph documenting this collection accompanies the presentation.

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RELATED DOCUMENTATION

The collection is accompanied by:

• a Zo’é documentary photograph;
• the book TRIBES – The First People;
• the corresponding documents and certificates.

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NOTE

Few Amazonian collections simultaneously bring together:

• a Jean-Pierre Dutilleux provenance;
• a mention in a reference work;
• a presentation in an exhibition;
• associated photographic documentation;
• objects covering several fundamental aspects of the daily life of a single people.

This exceptional combination lends the collection particularly significant ethnographic, documentary, and museum value.