Heading to the Pacific

July 8, 2015 · by · in

The Pacific era is very unique. Even though i was not in class to research about the artwork just by  looking at it seems to be a style i never seen before. I really like the Raharuhi Rukupo, master carver. Maori Meeting House and Ancestral poles (bisj) Asmat, wood, paint and palm leaves.The Maori Meeting house is the home of the chiefs and symbolizes the founding ancestor and tribal pride.Ancestors were thought to be actively interested in community affairs and participate in meetings held in the house. The house is very sacred. As you see the colors vary from different houses in New Zealand and third image is of a storehouse door of a tribe west of Turanga. was carved from stone tools. The large spirals represent light and knowledge entering the world.

Maori Meeting House

 

The ancestral poles is a litte different compared maori because it represents warriors and headhunters they believe all deaths were caused by an enemy. The poles also represented funeral feasts.  The poles were erected in order to celebrate the spirit of the dead because they believed that their spirit remained in the village. They faced the river and were a symbol of a dugout canoe since they believed that the spirit world lay beyond the sea and offered the spirits safe passage to the spirit world.

Asmat Bisj (“bis”) poles, Buepis village, Fajit River, Casuarina Coast, Irian Jaya, Melanesia, painted wood, early to mid 20th century