Important Artworks

  

T: Male Figure

D: 18th-Early 19th century

L: Mangareva, Gambier Island, French Polynesia

M: Wood

Important Fact: The context is Unknown at the time, but this figure is similar to representations in other pacific islands of an agricultural deity who brought the rains that sustained the growth of crops

Rel: Polytheistic

-Mangareva is one of the largest Gambier Islands in Tahiti. It is perceived that this is the island with the most supernatural activity. The people believe that there are many signs of spirits of descendants or ancestors, known as etua, and spirits of children of chiefs who possibly died before birth.

-These type of figures were kept in shrines or other sacred locations as devotions to deities or other individuals.

T: Drum

D:mid-20th century
A:Carved by Omas
L: New Guinea, Papua Province

Pa: Asmat people
M:Wood, lizard skin, paint, fiber

Imp. Fact:The hourglass drum was the principal musical instrument of the Asmat people of southwest New Guinea . At virtually every significant celebrations or feasts, one or more men gather to play the drums and sing music.

Rel: Polytheistic

-Performances or celebrations could go on for days, even weeks

-The drum was perceived to be associated with human beginings. In some cultures, like the Asmat, the people believed there was a god named Fumeripits who created wood figures and created then unto real life. He lived a lonely life in a house that he built himself and decded he need company so he carved these figures and made them come to life. In order to get them to be lively, he added a drum. These drums were commissioned from master carvers.

T: Giant Moai Satues

L: Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

Imp Fact: The moai represent ancestral chiefs who were believed to be descended directly from the gods and whose supernatural powers could be used for the benefit of humanity.

M: Limestone

-the average height of these heads are minimally about 13 feet and can way up to 10-12 tons

-each head was commisioned by an individual

-these heads were meant to represent protectio for the common people and are the most known art form of the Easter Islands



T: Body Mask (Det)
A: Asmat People
L: Ambisu Village, New Guinea (Irian Jayan)
M: Wood, fiber, leaves, paint
- Most of the arts in these region referenced back to the spirits of the dead
-There are 2 types of masks made for these purposes :
1) Masks depicting orphans
2) Masks (like the one shown above) portraying the dead
-These masks were specifiacally named for someone who had recently passed away
-In the high point of the ceremony, this masked performaer arrives to tour the village in whic he will be hospitalicized with food or other necessities, then go to the ceremonial house "where the dead and life join" in a dance
-The next morning, after the great celebration, the dead depart for the realm of ancestors (aka the Safan)



T: Kaitaia Lintel
A: The Maori People
M: Wood
D: Te Tipunga period (ca. 1200-1500)
-Different from previous ornamental ancestors, the Maori's classic wood carving is stylized through boldly three dimensional forms with very intricately designed surfaces.
-wood carving art was brought upon a God called Ruatepupuke who introduced wood carving to human kind
-wood carving was a way in which silence spoke to the viewer
-the survival of many of these carving is beacause the Maori hid these ornament well
-the waterlogged surfaces also kept them preserved