Overview
This lecture explores the art of the Pacific, focusing on its relationship with the ocean, cultural diversity, and key works and traditions from Oceania.
Geographic and Cultural Overview
- Oceania is divided into Australia, Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia.
- New Zealand, Hawaii, and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) are part of Polynesia.
- Oceanic cultures share a uniting theme: dependence on the ocean for survival and culture.
Migration and Ancestry
- The Lapita people migrated from Southeast Asia, bringing technology, plants, and animals.
- Lapita are ancestors of Micronesians, Polynesians, and some Melanesians.
Oceanic Navigation Art
- Navigational charts made from sticks and shells represent currents and islands, memorized rather than carried at sea.
- Navigational skill was vital in Pacific societies.
Religion, Ritual, and Power
- Female deities and cult houses served as resting places for gods or ancestor spirits, especially during rituals.
- Feather capes (ʻahuʻula) symbolized high rank, lineage, and mana (spiritual power) for Polynesian chiefs.
- Mana represents spiritual force, power, effectiveness, and social status.
Totems, Masks, and Ancestor Veneration
- Masks (e.g., Buk mask from Torres Strait) combined human and animal features for ritual performances, representing spiritual powers.
- In New Ireland, mologon funeral ceremonies used ancestor sculptures to house spirits temporarily, which were destroyed after ceremonies.
Tattoos and Body Art
- Tattoos and scarification in Pacific and African cultures signified status and identity, prevalent due to warm climates and minimal clothing.
- Tattoo patterns conveyed lineage and mana, notably among Māori leaders.
Art Materials and Techniques
- Pacific art used local materials: wood, feathers, fibers, stone, turtle shell, and bark cloth (tapa).
- Weaving (often by women) and carving (by men) were central artistic practices.
- Stonework exists (e.g., Nan Madol’s basalt structures), but wood and fiber arts predominate.
Gender Roles in Art
- Men typically carved, women wove or made bark cloth and performed in rituals.
- Works like staff gods combined male and female elements, symbolizing fertility and continuity.
Iconic Sites and Structures
- Nan Madol (Micronesia) was a ceremonial center for aristocracy, built from natural basalt columns.
- Ritual processions and offerings played a role in major ceremonies.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Oceania — region including Australia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia.
- Lapita — prehistoric culture, ancestors of Pacific Islanders.
- Mana — spiritual power, authority, and prestige.
- Tapa/Bark cloth — textile made from tree bark, often decorated and used in rituals.
- ʻAhuʻula (feather cape) — Hawaiian cape signifying rank, protection, and lineage.
- Totem — symbol (often animal) representing a clan or spiritual force.
- Mologon — ancestor sculpture for funerary/coming-of-age ceremonies in New Ireland.
- Nan Madol — monumental stone city in Micronesia.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Work on and prepare your presentations as instructed.
- Review materials and required works related to Pacific art.
- Be ready to discuss connections between art, ritual, and social organization.