Ani O'Neil uses conventional
crochet techniques to evoke the
colourful hibiscus shrubs which are
very common in villages of Polynesia.
But her overlapping colour wheels
are also a metaphor for communities,
social structure and interaction.
With sticks of the native hibiscus, Krick Barraud
has created a frame to look through. She has
changed the way we see the beach and the
lagoon by dividing nature into compartments
and so creating a pattern that changed with the
tide, light situation and the occasional seabird
flying past..
Loretta Reynold’s acrylics paintings
are based
on a classic Cook Islands
icon, Tangaroa. With
innovative
techniques she combines traditional
themes with her own patterns.
The changes of
culture and confrontation with Western life
style is
the most
important theme of
contemporary Cook Islands art.
In this colourful quilted wall hanging, Andrea Eimke selected six typical island subjects to represent our lush, tropical environment. Playful patterns both divide and bring the composition together, and convey the happy mood of a sunny day on Atiu.
In this pastel painting, Papa Atera is addressing the change of life style in the Cook Islands. On the left he represented fishing, planting and traditional food, on the right side, imported food, education and modern dress. The face itself is not divided - the people are the same.
Nga Vakapora designs T-shirts using local themes which he translates into bold graphics. He invents patterns which are both striking as abstract shapes and informative about the subject.
Art extends our experience and knowledge of life, and the more convincing the artwork is, the more profoundly we are moved or changed.
Art can be anything from a challenge, soul food, to entertainment, or a mix of all three. Sometimes, we don’t feel like listening to a symphony, but are in the mood for a simple and upbeat song that keeps us company while we are doing housework. There are times when instead of an umukai or a three-course dinner, we just want to snack straight out of the fridge. And to put on the wall in the rental unit, we might choose something happy and uncomplicated that matches the curtains and the sofa.
With scientific attention, Yun Zu painted this colonial palace in the challenging technique of watercolour. The splendour of the beautiful house and garden is celebrated in every detail with love and care.
Moody records
Artworks are records of the very different states of our minds. They are chronicles of cultures and convey information on social dynamics, as well as moods, attitudes and trends. They can show concerns for our environment or reveal personal thoughts, and many artists document their ideas about the process of art itself, in compositions of forms and colours. There is an art for everyone and every situation, and if you decide you don’t care for a certain painting, you can be almost sure that someone else will love exactly that one.
There are big differences in the quality of artworks, which depends on the reasons and the particular motivation why they were created. The reason why a viewer likes a work of art is quite often another one. To fully appreciate art, we have to see it in context with the artist, the culture and environment it was created in.
An artwork can be the result of weeks and months of dedicated work, or it can be a happy and spontaneous group activity by children at a birthday party. Some art is the outcome of many years of study, a complicated process of thought, or a statement of identity, but the footprints of someone who walked over wet concrete could also be labeled art.
The truth is, there is no clear definition of what the word “art” means, so we can call art whatever we like - and we don’t have to like everything that is called art. We can choose the art we relate to and enjoy, according to our own personalities and temperament.
Art is information
However, to put our own likes and dislikes aside can be very informative. Since art is philosophy, story telling, historic recording and psychology, it can show and tell us many things that we would easily miss, if we judge superficially.
Judith Kunzlé 2006
For discussion or feedback on this article email the author.
This pencil drawing of a young Petrel was recording a surprise encounter with a seabird chick. The drawing was very spontaneous, with no need for social comment and no time for concern about artistic design. (Drawing by Judith Kunzlé)