The Anurai are an ancient clan that specializes in the wisdom of the night sky. Its members track the movements and alignments of stars, planets, and moons. They are also renowned as meticulous artisans and craftsmen, producing unparalleled craftwork in the form of musical instruments, visual art, and jewelry.
The Anurai spare no detail when working on their creations, drawing on the materials around them. A masterful balance of spirit and ingenuity has set them apart from the other clans. Wild imagination and visionary prowess guide them to scavenge the vast, bone-littered land in which they live. Both playful and musical, they specialize in fashioning instruments from the bones of animals long laid to rest; skeletal remnants of the palulukan—totem of the Anurai and the deadliest land predator on Pandora—are the most coveted of all. Using these and whatever other materials they may find, the Anurai continuously invent and create beautiful objects such as necklaces and sculptures.
Bone sculptures are a prime example of Anurai artistry and painstaking attention to craft. As an artistic medium, bones are both practical and metaphorical. The Anurai live in a sanctuary littered with bones of ancient animals. This environment fosters an attitude of genuine respect for all life, even after death. Since the dawn of time, the Anurai have carried this belief. Value of life, even in passing, is the main motivation to transform symbols of loss into beautiful works of art.
It is believed that this ritual was first inspired by a call from Eywa. According to Anurai legend, the deity led young clan members across a bone-littered desert. Sorrow grew with each repetitive step, passing bone after bone. As they marched into nightfall, at the peak of Pandora’s bioluminescence, the clan members were suddenly one with the long-lost creatures. In this moment, these passed spirits felt incredibly alive. The need to celebrate these spirits consumed the clan to the point of epiphany. The Anurai continued to craft impeccable art with the purpose of transforming lost life into eternal treasure.
Another Anurai tradition is to construct a thanator totem (above), a balance-testing ritual that relies on the complete sync of two or more clan mates. This harmony is something only true teamwork can provide. Bones are strategically stacked as a fellow clan mate maintains footing. It is impossible to create this totem alone. A single misstep can send bones cascading with great force. The totem honors the mighty thanator, or palulukan, Pandora’s deadliest creature, to teach the importance of unity, trust, and teamwork. It reminds the Anurai to react to each other’s actions with empathy and purpose. With a spirit of togetherness, there is hope to face all of life’s dangers.
In addition to sculpture, music is another art form the Anurai explore with animal bones. For the Na’vi, the animal’s spirit infiltrates the clan member’s body like a forceful muse to guide every cut of the blade. During this process, the artist’s movements are almost instinctual. The animal’s spirit takes over and vanishes in an instant when the instrument is complete. This is a very exciting moment when the Anurai discover the instrument’s sound for the first time. The sound is said to be an expression of gratitude from the animal to the creator. It is an expression of thanks for creating a piece of art that allows their voice to live on. This particularly culturally significant palulukan bone flute is called the txärpawk, and it is said a Na’vi could use this particular musical bone to call upon the toruk.