Arts of Oceania Micronesia Melanesia Polynesia and New Zealand Maori

Oceanic art or Oceanian art comprises the artistic works made by the native people of the Pacific Islands and Australia, including areas equally far autonomously as Hawaii and Easter Island. Specifically it comprises the works of the two groups of people who settled the area, though during 2 different periods. They would in time however, come to interact and together accomplish even more than remote islands. The expanse is ofttimes cleaved down into four split up regions: Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia and Australia. Commonwealth of australia, along with interior Melanesia (Papua), are populated past descendants of the first waves of human migrations into the region by Australo-Melanesians. Micronesia, Island Melanesia, and Polynesia, on the other manus, are descendants of later Austronesian voyagers who intermixed with native Australo-Melanesians; by and large via the Neolithic Lapita culture. All of the regions in later times would be greatly afflicted past western influence and colonization. In more recent times, the people of Oceania have institute a greater appreciation of their region's artistic heritage.

The artistic creations of these people varies profoundly throughout the cultures and regions. The subject matter typically carries themes of fertility or the supernatural. Fine art such as masks were used in religious ceremonies or social rituals. Petroglyphs, Tattooing, painting, wood etching, stone carving and textile work are other common fine art forms. Contemporary Pacific art is live and well, encompassing traditional styles, symbols, and materials, but at present imagined in a diversity of gimmicky forms, revealing the complexity of geographic, cultural and individual interaction and history.^[1]

Overview [edit]

Art of Oceania properly encompasses the artistic traditions of the people indigenous to Commonwealth of australia, New Zealand, Pacific Island and Lebanon Dahia. The ancestors of the people of these islands came from Southeast Asia by two different groups at separate times. The first, an Australo-Melanesian people and the ancestors of modernistic-day Melanesians and Australian Aboriginals, came to New Republic of guinea and Commonwealth of australia about 40,000 to 60,000 years ago. The Melanesians expanded equally far every bit the northern Solomon Islands by 38,000 BC. The 2d moving ridge, the ocean-voyaging Austronesian peoples from Southeast Asia, would not come for some other thirty,000 years. They would come to interact and together attain even the most remote Pacific islands.^{[2] [3]} These early peoples lacked a writing system, and made works on perishable materials, so few records of them exist from this time.^[four] Oceanic peoples traditionally did not run into their piece of work in the western concept of "art", but rather created objects for the practical purpose of employ in religious or social ceremonies, or for use in everyday life.^[5]

By 1500 BC the Austronesian Lapita culture, descendants of the second wave, would begin to expand and spread into the more than remote islands. At effectually the same time, art began to appear in New Republic of guinea, including the earliest examples of sculpture in Oceania. The menstruum from k BC on, the Lapita people would consolidate and begin to create the contemporary Polynesian cultures of Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji. They would from there venture further out into the Pacific and settle the Marquesas and Northern Melt Islands between 200 BC and 1 Advert. Additionally from well-nigh 1000 BC, trade between the Pacific Islands and mainland Asia was growing, and starting 600 BC, works of the Dongson culture of Vietnam, known for their bronze working, can be found in Oceania, and their imagery has a strong influence on the indigenous artistic tradition. Records to g AD continue to be few, however almost artistic tradition are continued to this point, such as New Republic of guinea sculpture and Australian rock art, although the period is characterized by increasing trade and interaction as well as new areas being settled, including Hawaii, Easter Island, Tahiti, and New Zealand. Starting effectually 1100 AD, the people of Easter Isle would brainstorm construction of nearly 900 moai (big stone statues). At near 1200 AD, the people of Pohnpei, a Micronesian island, would embark on another megalithic construction, building Nan Madol, a city of artificial islands and a organisation of canals. By 1500, the first European explorers begin to accomplish Oceania. Although previous artistic and architectural traditions are continued, the various regions would brainstorm to diverge and record more distinct cultures.^{[6] [7]}

Prehistoric [edit]

The rock art of Australian Aborigines is the longest continuously practiced creative tradition in the globe. These sites, found in Arnhem Land, Australia, are divided into three periods: Pre-Estuarine (c. 40,000?–6000 BC), Estuarine (c. 6000 BC–500 AD), and Fresh Water (c. 500 Advertizement–nowadays). They are dated based on the styles and content of the art. Pre-Estuarine, the oldest, is characterized by imagery in a cherry ocher pigment. All the same, by near 6000 BC, increasingly elaborate images brainstorm to announced, marking the start of the Estuarine period. These rock paintings served several functions. Some were used in magic, others to increment creature populations for hunting, while some were simply for amusement. One of the more elaborate collections of stone art in this surface area is the site of Ubirr, a favored camping ground during wet seasons which has had its stone faces painted many times over thousands of years.^[viii]

Sculpture in Oceania outset appears on New Guinea every bit a series of stone figures found throughout the island, just mostly in mountainous highlands. Establishing a chronological timeframe for these pieces in near cases is difficult, simply one has been dated to 1500 BC. The content of the sculptures fit into 3 categories: mortars, pestles, and freestanding figures. The tops of many pestles comprise images, often of birds or human heads. Mortars evidence similar imagery, or sometimes geometric patterns. Freestanding figures again portray like themes: humans, animals, and phalluses. The original significance of these pieces however, are unknown, but were perhaps used in the context of rituals.^[9]

Another early culture with an creative tradition are the Lapita, dating from about 1500 BC to 500 BC, who are thought to be the ancestors of the modernistic day cultures of Polynesia and Island Melanesia. The culture was formed by the 2d wave of Oceanic settlers. The name comes from the site of Lapita in New Caledonia, which was amid the first places its distinctive sculpture would be found. It is debated exactly where the culture adult, but the people themselves originally came from Southeast Asia. Their art is all-time known by its ceramics, which include elaborate geometric motifs and sometimes anthropomorphic imagery. It is thought some of the designs may be related to modern Polynesian tattoos and barkcloths. They were created by firing a comblike tool that stamped the designs on to wet clay. Each stamp would take one design and would be layered until an elaborate pattern was created. Their usage was primarily, in cooking, serving, and storing food.^[x]

Regional [edit]

Micronesia [edit]

Micronesia comprises second-wave settlers of Oceania, encompassing the people of the islands due north of Melanesia, and has an artistic tradition attested to early Austronesian waves from the Philippines and the Lapita culture.^{[2] [3]} Among the most prominent works of the region is the megalithic floating metropolis of Nan Madol. The city began in 1200 Advert, and is nevertheless being built when European explorers begin to arrive around 1600. The city however, undergoes a turn down by around 1800 along with the Saudeleur dynasty, and is abandoned birthday by the 1820s. The 19th century would see the region divided up amidst the colonial powers, however art continued to thrive. Wood carving by men in particular flourishes in the region, creating richly decorated ceremonial houses in Belau, stylized bowls, canoe ornaments, ceremonial vessels, and sometimes sculptured figures. Women on the other hand created textiles and ornaments like bracelets and headbands. Stylistically, Micronesian fine art is streamlined and of a applied simplicity to its role, but is typically finished to a high standard of quality.^[11] This was more often than not to make the best possible use of what few natural materials they had bachelor to them.^[12]

The first half of the 20th century saw a downturn in Micronesia'south cultural integrity and a strong strange influence from both western and Japanese Imperialist powers. A number of historical creative traditions, peculiarly sculptural, just ceased to be proficient. However other fine art forms connected, including traditional architecture and weaving. Simply past the 2nd half of the century, independence from colonial powers allows their traditional arts to find a renewed interest and respect from within the region, and a new generation are taught these fine art forms. There is also a notable move of contemporary art within Micronesia toward the end of the 20th century.^[13]

Polynesia [edit]

Polynesia, like Federated states of micronesia, stretched dorsum to Lapita cultural traditions. Lapita Culture included parts of the western Pacific and reached as far e as Tonga and Samoa.^[14] However much of Polynesia, like the islands of Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Easter Island, had only relatively recently been settled by ethnic peoples. The about famous Polynesian art forms are the Moai (statues) of Rapa Nui/Easter Island. Polynesian art is characteristically ornate, and frequently meant to comprise supernatural ability or mana.^[fifteen] Polynesian works of art were idea to comprise spiritual ability and could touch on change in the world.^[16] However the period beyond 1600 AD had seen intense interaction with European explorers, in addition to continuing earlier cultural traditions. The collections of European explorers during the menstruation testify that classical Polynesian art was indeed flourishing. In the 19th century, depopulation of areas due to slave raiding and Western diseases disrupted many societies and cultures. Missionary work in the region caused the conversion to Christianity, and in some cases the destruction of traditional cultural and artistic heritage of the region, specifically sculpture. Nonetheless more than secular fine art forms continue, such as carving non-religious objects similar kava bowls and material work such as tapa making. With the end of colonialism however, Polynesians increasingly attempted to assert their cultural identity.^[17]

Australia [edit]

Australian Aboriginal people are nigh known for their rock art, which they continue to do afterwards their contact with Western explorers. Other forms of art nevertheless, reflect their lifestyle of often moving from one camp to some other and is commonsensical and portable, albeit yet highly busy. They used rocks and other natural sources mixed with h2o to brand their paint. Oftentimes using sticks to make their famous simply contempo (from 1971) dot paintings. Even today we notwithstanding see Aboriginals making these. When dancing, they paint their bodies with white "paint" and use it to their trunk in patterns and meaningful shapes and lines. Their dancing uses native Australian animals as inspiration.^[18]

Melanesia [edit]

Melanesia, comprising New Republic of guinea and the surrounding islands and people of showtime wave settlers, has perhaps the most striking art of all Oceania. Stylistically art is typically highly decorative and portrays exaggerated forms, often of sexual themes. Information technology is mostly fabricated in connectedness with ancestors, hunting, and cannibalism. Ordinarily they would be used in the context of spiritual rituals, such as the creation of elaborate masks. However, few examples of Melanesian art exist on the islands today.^[5]

After 1600, like the other regions of Oceania, saw increasing encounters with European explorers. What they witnessed was a flourishing tradition of art and culture, such as the first tape of the region'southward elaborate wood carving. It isn't until the latter half of the 19th century, all the same, that westernization begins to takes its toll. Some traditional forms of fine art go into decline, merely others similar sculpture survive and fifty-fifty thrive in the region. Not until more of the islands were explored by the western powers that the sheer diversity of Melanesian fine art begins to be seen. Past the 20th century, Melanesian art begins to find its way to the West and has a profound bear on on contemporary artists. However a great cultural disruption would follow the 2d World War, and much traditional art would brainstorm to pass up or exist destroyed. This would be followed decades afterward by a newfound appreciation for their native fine art forms.^[nineteen]

See also [edit]

• Oceanian civilisation
• Austronesian civilisation
• Tribal art
• Overmodelled skull

Notes [edit]

1. ^ Brunt, Peter (2012). Art in Oceania: A New History. New Haven and London: Yale University Printing. pp. 410–497. ISBN978-0-300-19028-i.
2. ^ ^{a b} Gray, RD; Drummond, AJ; Greenhill, SJ (2009). "Language Phylogenies Reveal Expansion Pulses and Pauses in Pacific Settlement". Science. 323 (5913): 479–483. Bibcode:2009Sci...323..479G. doi:ten.1126/science.1166858. PMID 19164742.
3. ^ ^{a b} Pawley, A. (2002). "The Austronesian dispersal: languages, technologies and people". In Bellwood, Peter Southward.; Renfrew, Colin (eds.). Examining the farming/language dispersal hypothesis. McDonald Plant for Archaeological Inquiry, University of Cambridge. pp. 251–273. ISBN978-1902937205.
4. ^ Met Timeline of Fine art History, Oceania, 80000-2000 B.C.. Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
5. ^ ^{a b} Hutchinson Encyclopedia. Oceanic art Archived 2006-05-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on June 23, 2006.
6. ^ Met Timeline of Art History, Oceania, 1000-1400 A.D.. Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
7. ^ Met Timeline of Art History, Oceania, 1400-1600 A.D.. Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
8. ^ Met Timeline of Art History Ubirr (xl,000?B.C.-present). Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
9. ^ Met Timeline of Art History, Prehistoric Rock Sculpture from New Guinea. Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
10. ^ Met Timeline of Art History, Lapita Pottery (ca. 1500-5000 B.C.). Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
11. ^ Met Timeline of Fine art History Micronesia, 1800-1900 A.D.. Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
12. ^ "Oceanic art", The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th Edition 2006.
13. ^ Met Timeline of Fine art History, Micronesia, 1900 A.D.-present. Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
14. ^ D'Alleva, Anne (1998). Arts of the Pacific Islands . Abrams. p. 14. ISBN0-8109-2722-v.
15. ^ Kaeppler, Adrienne (2008). The Pacific Arts of Polynesia and Micronesia . Oxford University Press. p. 5. ISBN978-0-19-284238-1.
16. ^ Hooper, Steven (2006). Pacific Encounters: Fine art and Divinity in Polynesia 1760-1860. Honolulu: Academy of Hawai'i Press. p. 28. ISBN978-0-8248-3084-seven.
17. ^ Met Timeline of Art History, 1900 A.D.-nowadays. Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
18. ^ Met Timeline of Art History, Australia, 1800-1900 A.D.. Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
19. ^ Met Timeline of Art History, Melanesia, 1900 A.D.-present. Retrieved on June 22, 2006.

Further reading [edit]

• Goldwater, Robert; et al. (1969). Art of Oceania, Africa, and the Americas from the Museum of Primitive Fine art: an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• Kjellgren, Due east.; et al. (2001). Excellent isolation: art of Easter Island . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN9781588390110.

External links [edit]

• Grafico Topico's articles on art from the Pacific region
• Oceanic Art Society
• Tribal Fine art Magazine
• Rayond and Laura Wielgus Drove, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanian_art

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