Selections From The Oceania Collection Of The Indiana University Art

Selections From the Oceania Collection of the Indiana University Art Museum

Where is Oceania?  The vast area of the South Pacific

including: Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia  Some scholars also include Australia and Indonesia  Thousands of islands, many of which are still uninhabited

The Importance of Genealogy in Polynesia  Genealogy is the study of families and the

tracing of their lineages and history  In Polynesia, elite society members trace their ancestry to the Gods  Artworks were considered precious family heirlooms

Mana and Tapu  In Polynesia, mana is a supernatural

energy or power possessed by all things, both living and non-living  A priest or artist was thought to have a great deal of mana, while a common person would have less  Mana was believed to be inherited through physical contact  A tapu (or taboo) is an assigned restriction to protect mana. By following the prescribed action or avoidance, the tapu would ensure the mana did not lose energy or power.

Australia Melanesia comes from the Greek word for “black”, referring to the darkskinned people who lived there In Melanesia, status was based on achievement, military success, and birth rite. Most Melanesian artworks were for one time use and discarded

Micronesia is made of thousands of tiny islands, thus the name “micro” from Greek which means “tiny”.

European Exploration  Captain James Cook was a British

explorer who came to Oceania in the 18th century  Europeans destroyed the culture of

Oceania by the introduction of religion, and European diseases

Hei Tiki (Pendant) Maori Peoples, New Zealand 19th Century Nephrite and Haliotis shell •Made of most precious, dark green stone •Infused with mana by the artist and worn to increase the wearer’s mana •Meaning of this form is debated

Female Figure Ha’apai Island Group, Tonga 18th Century Whale ivory •Inter-island trade between Tonga and Fiji makes it difficult to tell where this was created •Ivory originally came from beached whales, until the Europeans made contact •Figure exemplifies ideals of female beauty

Fly- Whisk Handle Austral Islands or Tahiti, Society Islands Before 1818 Whale ivory, wood, vegetable fiber •Extremely rare object •Would have had fibers or feathers on the end to swat flies and keep cool •Repetition of human bodies implies the importance of mana and

Drum Austral Islands 1800-1850 Tamunu wood, sharkskin, vegetable fiber •Hundreds of human forms are carved into this drum using metal tools •Made from hollowed log, sharkskin, and vegetable fiber •The tone of the drum can be modified by

Stilt Step Marquesas Islands 19th Century Wood •Stilt tied to foot with brightly colored fibers •Stilts used in games and ceremonies to please the gods •The representation of a human form in Marquesan culture is called a tiki

Chest Ornament Easter Island Wood, obsidian, bone

•Crescent shape signifies the moon •Chest pieces were made of several types of materials such as bone or shell •There was only one source of wood on Easter Island

Male Figure (Maoi Kavakava) Easter Island Early to mid 19th Century Wood, obsidian, bone •Figure would have been worn on a string or carried during dancing •Easter Islanders were abducted from their land and forced into slavery •Most of Easter Islanders died due to slavery and European diseases

Pendant Necklace (Lei Palaoa) Hawaii 1800-1850 Walrus ivory, human hair, fiber •Worn by important man or woman •Each stand made of 90 hairs •Hair and the head were regarded as sacred

Maori People, North Island, New Zealand Canoe Bailer Early 19th Century • Heavy use indicated by patina and chipping •Used to bail water out of a war canoe •Stylized face with flaring nostrils and off-set eyes

New Georgia Group, Solomon Islands Canoe Prow Ornament 19th Century Wood, shell, pigment •Object to be placed on the front of a canoe for protection from weather and enemies •Could have been used as a sign of success or failure in raids •Shows typical dress of

Neo Village, Temotu, Santa Cruz Islands Male Figure (Munga Dukna) Wood, fiber, shell, turtle shell, turmeric •Image of a deity used exclusively by men •Would have been rubbed with ceremonial oils and dressed in ornaments •Religious objects were destroyed by European missionaries

Northern Madak peoples, Malom Village, New Ireland Memorial Figure (Uli) Wood, lime, pigment, shell, sea snail operculum, fiber •Used as a commemorative figure to honor the death of a leader •Has both male and female anatomy •Face was originally painted white

Lower Sepik River area, Papua New Ginea Commemorative Figure Before 1908 Wood, pigment, fiber •Represents an ancestor or mythological hero •Wearing a bilim, a bag suspended from the neck •Red color signifies male strength and virility

Kambot or nearby peoples, Papua New Guinea Mask Constructed with many types of materials including: wood,rattan, clay, cowrie shells, nassa shells, boar tusks, human hair, pearl shell, fiber •Ownership of pigs indicated wealth, curly tusks very valuable •Shells were exchanged between islands as currency

Biwat peoples, Papua New Guinea Figure for a sacred flute Wood, shell, boar tusk, human hair cassowary feathers, fiber, pigment •Scared flutes were extremely valuable •This would be inserted in the end of a sacred flute •Elaborately decorated with shells, feathers, and human hair

Iatmul People, Papua New Guinea Mask (Mai) Late 19th or 20th century Wood, pigment, cowrie shells •This is only part of an entire mask •A pair of these masks would have been worn during ceremonies •Mask would also be worn by leaders during other

Asmat peoples, Papau,Indonesia Seated Female Figure Before 1913 Wood, pigment, seeds, fiber •Mimics a creation story •Created in honor of a deceased relative •Created by a master carver •Resembles a praying mantis

Erub Island, Australia Mask 19th century Turtle shell, clam shell, resin, sennit, wood, human hair, cassowary feathers •Made using hawksbill turtle shell •Intricate carving •Researchers did not closely study Oceania until it had already been missionised by the

Batak peoples,Sumatra, Indonesia Priest’s horn Wood, buffalo horn •Horn used by a powerful ritual specialist to heal sick and ensure success in military endeavors •Has composite animal forms •Batak people had contact with the Hindu people through trade and were influenced by their designs

Discussion Questions  What objects in our culture may be

regarded as sacred?  What types of materials are found locally that could be used to create art?  How is the concept of ancestry and genealogy discussed in your family?