Oceanic Arts and Pacifica

ISBN-10: 1876418087
ISBN-13: 9781876418083
Category: Art, Primitive
Pages: 104
Language: English
Published: 2014-12-10
Authors: Todd Barlin, Leo Tanoi, Crispin Howarth

Description

Oceanic Arts Australia (OAA) has been collecting Pacific heritage objects for the past 30 years, collecting and photographing the traditional art & ceremonies native to the people of Pacific Islands region.This creative pursuit has been to capture the artistic creations of these people throughout the distinct cultures and regions of the Pacific Islands. The subject matter of these collected art works touches on themes of the divine or the supernatural, and explores the idea that magic does in fact exist. These ethereal qualities of Pacific art works are concentrated in Oceanic Arts and Pacifica presented as part of the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre Pacifica Gods 2014 Exhibition and Festival. Oceanic Arts and Pacifica is an exploration of Pacific spirituality, divinity and mysticism. This body of work seeks to illustrate the magic-realism which exists in Melanesia culture, where the majority of the art works such as shields, masks, and figurines are said to contain symbolic power. Polynesians believed that all things in nature, including humans, contained a sacred and supernatural power called mana. They believed that all objects contained traces of this mana, and could potentially act as vessels to contact the Gods. The people of Polynesia were fascinated by the idea that the Gods could be contacted and spoken to through the use of magical art works.Featuring essays by Todd Barlin, Leo Tanoi and Crispin Howarth, foreword by Kiersten Fishburn.

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