24-+Art+of+Pacific+Cultures

= =

Chapter 24- Art of Pacific Cultures = by = = Ian Pasternak =

= = In this chapter, the art of the various islands on the Pacific ocean, from California to Asia. These Islands include: Australia, Melanesia, Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya, New Ireland, Micronesia, Polynesia, Easter Island, Marquesas Islands, Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, and Oceania. The artworks in the chapter range from as early as 16000 BC, to the late 1900s.




 * Australia:**
 * The Aborigines used to occupy Australia until the Europeans came. They lived as a nomadic group of hunter-gatherers.
 * They had a complex social organization and rich mythology that was often reflected in their art work.
 * Like most prehistoric cultures, the Aborigines painted on rocks and caves.


 * This painting of a kangaroo was painted over an earlier painting of stick figures known as //mimis// (ancestral spirits).
 * The kangaroo had an **x-ray style** in which all the important bones and vital organs are shown within the outline of the kangaroo.

In the Northern part of Australia, Arnhem Land, people lived a stone-age lifestyle into the 20th century. However, in order for better communication and as a better aid of communication and memory, they started recording things on eucalyptus bark. They also did ritual body painting and decorated their bark houses with ornaments. Bark painters continued to use x-ray style in their paintings.

The Yolngu-speakers, a tribe in Eastern Arnhem Land have a unique style of body painting. Not much is known about the meaning of their paintings, but it is based off their origin myths and rituals. According to them, the world was created in //Dream Time//. The myth explains the formation of geographical features, climate (including the monsoon season) and human social groupings. The myth begins with a flat world and then serpents and other ancestral beings turned it into the world it is today, mountains and all. Animals became ancestors of human groups and places associated with them became sacred. Associated paintings and rituals are meant to restore contact with //Dream Time//.

The Galpu clan in eastern Arnhem Land has different beliefs. They believe the first humans were the Wawilak sisters. They populated the Earth, gave everything names, as well as dance and sing. However, they insulted the Wititj, (olive serpent) and it swallowed them. The Serpent was called to a council of serpents that symbolized the clans. Wititj had to admit its bad act and barf up the humans. This myth is portrayed in Mithinarri Gurruwiwi's //The Conference of Serpents//.


 * The painting used natural pigments on eucalyptus bark.
 * It is the story of the Wawilak myth, specifically, the meeting of the serpent council.[[image:IMG_20110202_204148.jpg width="335" height="356" align="right" caption="Mithinarri Gurruwiwi- The Conference of Serpents, from the Wawilak myth"]]
 * The serpent in the middle is Wititj, and the dark rectangle is his watering hole.
 * The watering hole symbolizes the Yolngu ceremonial center for the unborn, living and dead.
 * The large lizards are called goannas.
 * The other ancestral snakes are associated with the elements as well as fertility.
 * The painting uses a unique form of cross hatching, known as **rarrk**.

Seafarers settled on Melanesia in 1500 BC. They colonized their and raised animals and spread agriculture through the island for food. They also made pottery, such as plates and bowls. Some were covered in red slip and decorated with geometric patterns. Some of the ceramics were figurative as well. The art was used to communicate to the supernatural forces.
 * Melanesia:**

New Guinea is the largest island in Melanesia. It s 1,500 miles long by 1,000 miles wide, making it the second largest island in the world. It is divided into two countries, the Eastern part being Papua New Guinea, and the Western part being Irian Jaya.
 * New Guinea (Melanesia):**

The people who populate the northern side of Papua New Guinea, near the mountains are the Abelam. They live in clans or extended families. Their wealth is measured by pigs, which they raise. Men can also get status by joining the yam cult. The condition of the yam is associated with the farmer, therefore the harvesting of yams calls for rituals. A typical Abelam village consists of different houses for different functions, including cooking, storage, sleeping, rituals, etc. A //Tamberan// is basically a meeting place for men to discuss community business. They also have ceremonies for a good yam harvest. The prestige of the Tamberan is connected to the wealth of the wealth of the village and the condition of the yams as well.
 * Papua New Guinea:**


 * A Tamberan is built on a frame of poles and rafters[[image:bg_tamberan.jpg width="240" height="359" align="right" caption="Tamberan"]]
 * The roof is a split cane and thatch
 * The houses can be as big as 280 ft long by 40 ft wide
 * The ridge pole is set at an angle so it is higher in the front than the back
 * There is also an over hang in the front because the ridge pole is longer than the length of the base
 * The inside is a big triangular room that is elaborately painted and carved
 * It is usually decorated with the clans ancestral spirits.
 * The whole building process involves many ceremonies and sacred paint is used.

The Asmat occupied the Southwest grasslands on the coast of Irian Jaya. They were known as warriors. The beliefs say a mythic hero carved their ancestors out of trees. They honor the dead by making memorial poles that are covered in sculpture. These poles are called **mbis**. They believe the spirit of the dead occupy these poles and rituals are done to keep a balance between life and death. They are put in front of houses to observe ceremonies. After said ceremonies they are left to deteriorate.
 * Irian Jaya:**

New Ireland is located near New Guinea. The people in the central part of New Ireland are known for their **malanggan** ceremonies. It is a funerary service where people dance around in funky masks that are carved and painted. Since a malanggan takes a while to prepare, they are often delayed months or maybe years. The service involves the whole community where everyone dances and feasts. There is also a tatanua dance that shows a man's dominance.
 * New Ireland:**

In Micronesia is its Southeast coast, Pohnpei, home to Nan Madol, the largest stone complex in Oceania. The geography of Pohnpei is tropical and mountainous. In the 13th century, it was ruled by a hierarchy.
 * Micronesia:**
 * Nan Madol covers 170 acres and is made up of 92 small man-made islands.These islands are connected by network of canals.
 * The islands are oriented north-west to south-west, therefore they receive cooling winds, which is good.
 * Seawalls protect the Nan Madol from the ocean, as well as breakwaters.
 * The islands and structures were built using prismatic basalt in alternating courses.

Settlers made up a new culture with traditions but kept their origins with traditions as well. There was more of a hierarchy scale than in Melanesia. They made more permanent art that was passed down as heirlooms.
 * Polynesia:**

Easter Island is the most remote island in Polynesia.The island is known for their infamous stone sculptures. On the Island, there are also stone temples known as **marae**, which have stone altars known as **ahu**. Ahu are common in Polynesia, the were built near the coast. At around 900 AC, the islanders began to build statues on the ahu. They were questioned to be statues of dead chiefs. These statues are called **moai**. Almost 1,000 moai were built. Some were left unfinished. Building ceased in 1500 because of a civil war. That, combined with salve ships and spreading of disease killed off 94% of the population, leaving 600 people.
 * Easter Island:**


 * The moai are carved from tufa, a yellow-brown stone.
 * The statues' height averages at 36 feet high (an unfinished one measured 70 ft tall)
 * Some of the statues were restored in 1978
 * The statues' original condition include a red tufa topknot on the head and white coral eyes with stone pupils.
 * The eyes are deep and under a big, thick brow. There is also a slanted, pointed, and concave nose. The chin is angular.
 * The mouth is small with pursed lips.
 * The earlobes are long and have parallel lines engraved in them.
 * Breastbones and pectorals are also indicated.



War was common around Polynesia. Weapons and armor demonstrated ones rank.
 * Marquesas Islands:**

The Hawaiian islands remained isolated until 1200 AC. In 1810, the ruler, Kamehameha I (c. 1758-1819) unified the kingdom. Hawaii was influenced throughout the 19th century by the U.S. and their culture slowly died. They were annexed to the U.S. in 1959.
 * Hawaiian Islands:**

Hawaii is known for their cloth work. They used bark cloth, called **tapa**. This is made by pounding moist strips of bark together. It is then decorated with geometric patterns. They also prized making garments out of feathers.

This was the final part of Polynesia that was settled in. The first settlers arrived in the 10th century. The settlers were called Maori. They carved combs with tiki figures on the out of lintel. They also did tattoos, especially facial tattoos. They used chisels for tattoos and made swirling parallel lines. This was known as **moko**. THis was somewhat of an identity to a man.There was also an elaborately carved meeting house, The structure symbolizes the sky father- the rafters are ribs.
 * New Zealand:**

**Recent Art in Oceania:** media type="youtube" key="MWHw_1q4n6E" height="390" width="480" **Webstites** **[|Aborigine Art]** **[|Easter Island]**
 * Quilt work with multilayered stitches
 * //Royal Symbols// Deborah U. Kakalia- shows royal Hawaiian symbols, contrasting red and yellow figures.
 * Aborigines- Sand painting.