Oceanic Art
The Alligator Farm in St. Augustine displays various works of art that depict the cultural significance of crocodiles and alligators. A person just visiting the zoo to see the attraction may not notice or appreciate the presence of these objects.
According to oral histories, the majority of Southeast Asian native tribes believed crocodiles were the creators of the human race who had crawled out of the open mouth of a large, god-like crocodile. These same stories tell of a saltwater crocodile so big it fell into a slumber in the ocean and became the island of Timor. The Timorese tribes worshipped the massive crocodile as one of their major gods for providing the essentials of their lives.
The image of the crocodile, however, does not only depict them as givers of life, but as bringers of death. With humans and crocodiles sharing the shore, attacks occassionally occured. A tribe’s chiefdom would consult with crocodile spirits using induced visions to govern tribal matters that can result in life or death situations. For example, a tribal elder would pray to objects that had crocodilian markings or characteristics before inducing a dream state to determine wars and sacrifices (sometimes to crocodiles).
Woodcarving is an art form passed down through generations. In a Papua New Guinean rite of passage, young men are presented with a large log of Bali wood to carve as testament to their determination and loyalty to the tribe. Such pieces have become highly sought collectable artworks in other parts of the world.
Some woodcarvings depict the most popular oral histories within the tribe, including tales of crocodiles. These typically feature a human figure interacting with crocs either as an extension of the human body or a reflection of tribal law. Some types of carvings such as masks, staffs, and canoes, are engraved with the face of the crocodile. In war, or in ritual ceremonies, masks and staffs serve as a transformation pieces so whoever carried these items was viewed to no longer be human, but as host bodies for that tribe’s crocodilian spirits and deities.
In sculptures depicting fishing expeditions, ceremonies, and tribal law enforcement, the relationship between human and crocodile is often exagerrated. For instance, one fishing expedition piece shows a group of three fishermen riding in an actual crocodile body.
One item which is featured in several examples at the Alligator Farm are canoe prows. Oceanic people commonly carved crocodilian features here believing these would safely guide them on their journeys. Some hulls take the form of the crocodile head. Another impressive item in the collection is a storyboard inside the conservation center. This is an example of a carving depicting daily life and events.