WHISTLES

Whistles are very common objects in the Amazon, and their function is to mimic the sound of birds to attract prey or to serve as means of communication, for instance to call to people inside the forest. They are artifacts made of natural local materials, which at the same time assist in the exploration of the local environment itself.

There are several models, and the sounds produced are quite different. Some shapes are the appropriation of natural forms: usually seeds or fruits whose pulp is removed and the skins then perforated. Others are crafted using local materials, such as wood, clay or mud.

Some whistles are played in unusual ways, like blowing it with the nose instead of the mouth. It is also common to find the shape of a bird in hand-modeled whistles, as a direct association of form and function in the object.