Art a' la Ava

Image of a Maori Ta Moko  This blog is about some art from the indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand, called Maori. How do you tell your story? Do you know your family tree? In this culture we strive to keep our culture flourishing. One of the best ways to do that is by sharing stories. Which is why Kirituhi, or skin art, and Ta Moko (face tattoos) are present in our culture. These designs are made up of numbers and patterns that mean specific things depending on placement. Here are some examples:   Pakati: Dog skin cloak, representative of warriors/battles/courage and strength. Hikuaua: Representative of Taranaki (a region of New Zealand) as well as prosperity, mackerel tail. Unaunahi: Fish scales that represent abundance and health. Ahu ahu mataroa: Shows talent and achievement in athleticism or sport and can also be representative of a new challenge. Taratarekae: From whale teeth.    When you add every koru off a Manawa line you can create a family tree, Mothers , Fa

  Into Bondage by: Aaron Douglas  An oil painting done in 1936 as part of a commission in Dallas by the Texas Centennial Exposition. There are four works that were designed to hang in the Hall of Nigro Life, the paintings told the story of African Americans from slavery to the then present time.  This piece focuses on slavery, but it does so in such n emotion-filled way. The talent shown in how Douglas placed the figures' bodies shows so great sadness, but with a glimmer of hope. The man looking at the star holds distinctly different body posture compared to the individuals walking onto land with their heads hung low. I think Art Deco was a good choice because it lets the viewer focus on the emotion the piece elicits rather than nit-picking the art technique, personal opinion.   The art elements I love the most are specifically the dark upfront foliage that helps frame the figures and place the story's setting. I like how the sun is an overlaying set of circles that also resemb