Out of Africa and on display in Dunedin

Open the wrong door at Frank Varsanyi's house and you're likely to find a menacing, spear-wielding warrior behind it.

''That's standard now. My family can't even watch TV in the lounge because there's usually an army of Borneo head hunter warriors in there.''

Over the past 25 years, Mr Varsanyi has created detailed, life-sized models of 54 different tribal warriors from around the world.

It is believed to be the only collection of its kind.

Some of the life-sized African and Samurai models created by Dunedin artist Frank Varsanyi that will be on display in  a Princes St shop this summer. Photos: Peter McIntosh
Some of the life-sized African and Samurai models created by Dunedin artist Frank Varsanyi that will be on display in a Princes St shop this summer. Photos: Peter McIntosh
They are on public display at an empty Dunedin shop in Princes St for the summer.

He said he started building the models after travelling to the jungles of Borneo in 1987.

''I was in the jungles and I collected some weapons and armour and stuff, and I thought, rather than just hang them on the wall, why not make something to hang them on?''

He has continued to collect authentic warrior body armour, weapons, shields and jewellery from across the globe, and put them on matching models.

Mr Varsanyi makes some minor adjustments to one of his African warriors.
Mr Varsanyi makes some minor adjustments to one of his African warriors.
''What I've done is captured the last tribal people of the world before western civilisation changed things.

''This is the last Samurai or Amazon - the culture and history of man.''

He said the torsos were shop mannequins, but he had handmade the heads out of clay, and the arms and legs were made with Gib-stopping plaster.

The heads have glass eyes and second-hand dentures, making them look very life-like.

''I've been a lot of the places where these people are from, but to get the detail of the tattoo work, I've had to go through old photos, sketches and paintings.

''I've made the effort to make sure everything looks authentic.

''It's pretty hard to do.

''I've had to re-do a few of the older ones because I wasn't happy with them.''

He believed the display was educational, particularly for school pupils who could see the size and shape of the warriors, and learn about their culture and history.

''It's a 3-dimensional object rather than just a computer screen.

''There's a lot of stuff here that you can't see on the internet - like the scarification on the faces of some warriors.

''What they would do is cut their foreheads, let it get infected and scarred, and then do it again and again, and build it up.

''The Mongos from Congo - remember Star Trek and the Klingons? The character was probably copied from the Mongos.

''You can really appreciate it on these [models].''

Mr Varsanyi continues to buy warrior weapons on his travels, but he buys most of them online these days.

''It's an ongoing thing. Every year, there's quite a few more made.''

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

Comments

Looks like a great display from a local artist!

Well worth visiting and a simple$5 entrance fee.
We found it facinating and Frank is so enthusiastic about it all and spends time giving you a talk.
Thanks Frank

 

Advertisement