The first book solely dedicated to the Art and Culture of Nias in many years, Nias Sculpture features a broad array of unpublished masterpieces from the collection of the Mandala Foundation. For countless centuries, the isolated island of Nias, located far off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, developed a unique culture and stunning art little influenced by the outside world. Descendants of the Austronesians, the ancient peoples who explored and settled insular Southeast Asia beginning some 5000 years ago, their art has been acclaimed for more than a century, Nias has achieved legendary status in the pantheon of Indonesian tribal art.