Betsaida’s Great Tapir Mask, Between Life and Tradition

Betsaida’s work is always marked by great refinement—delicate, inventive, and deeply inspired. Each of her masks carries her own sensitivity.

When she began this large tapir project, she was pregnant. In Embera tradition, after the birth of a child, a young mother stops all needlework for three months.
According to custom, continuing such work during this period could bring misfortune to both the baby and the mother.

The work was therefore paused, and this great tapir required nearly a full year to complete.

The result is remarkable: the delicacy of the embroidery and, all around the neck, the finely stitched traditional protective motifs.

A rare work that speaks of life and tradition