Slit Gong (Atingting kon)

mid- to late 1960s

Not on view

The towering slit gongs of northern Vanuatu are among the largest musical instruments in the world. Found primarily on Ambrym, Malekula, and neighboring islands, they are carved from the trunks of breadfruit trees, which are also an important food source. In each village, a number of gongs, comprising a sort of informal orchestra, stand on the village dancing ground. Gong orchestras are played at major social and religious events such as initiations, funerals, and dances. When playing, the musician stands in front of the gong and strikes the lip of the slit with a clublike wooden beater. As the gong ensemble is played, rhythms of immense variety and complexity can be produced by the carefully coordinated actions of multiple drummers.

#1187. Kids: Slit Gong (Atingting kon), Part 1

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1187. Kids: Slit Gong (Atingting kon), Part 1
1188. Kids: Slit Gong (Atingting kon), Part 2

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Slit Gong (Atingting kon), Tin Mweleun (commissioned by Tain Mal), Wood, paint — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Slit Gong (Atingting kon)

Artist: Tin Mweleun (commissioned by Tain Mal)

Date: mid- to late 1960s

Geography: Vanuatu, Ambrym Island

Medium: Wood, paint

Dimensions: H. 14 ft. 7 1/4 in. × W. 28 in. × D. 23 1/2 in. (445.1 × 71.1 × 59.7 cm)
H. to top of peg: 12 ft. 4 1/2 in. (377.2 cm)

Classification: Wood-Musical Instruments

Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1975

Accession Number: 1975.93

The Artist Project: Jeffrey Gibson

Artist Jeffrey Gibson reflects on Vanuatu slit gongs in this episode of The Artist Project.

The ancestor's voice emerges from the slit in the gong when it is played

"The ancestors, in a sense, are of the human world, watch over human activities, but are also connected with the larger workings of the cosmos."

A hollow, wooden Oceanic sculpture with a bird-like face, large round eyes, sharp down-turned beak, and pointed head

Voices of the Past

Focus on a slit gong in the Museum's Oceanic collection to illustrate the impact of scale in works of art, and consider objects' functions in their original contexts and ways different communities engage with their elders and ancestors. Classroom viewing questions and an oral history activity enhance the lesson.