Glossary
Ahu 'ula (Feather Cape)
A Hawaiian ceremonial cape or cloak made from thousands of meticulously arranged bird feathers, worn by royalty (ali'i).
Example:
The vibrant red and yellow patterns of an Ahu 'ula not only signified the wearer's high status but also offered divine protection in battle.
Ancestral Veneration
The practice of honoring and respecting deceased ancestors, often through rituals, offerings, and artistic representations, believing they can influence the living.
Example:
The massive Moai on Easter Island stand as silent guardians, embodying the profound ancestral veneration of the Rapa Nui people.
Buk (mask)
A mask from the Torres Strait Islands, often crafted from turtle shell, wood, feathers, and shells, used in ceremonial dances and storytelling.
Example:
The dynamic form of a Buk mask, with its articulated jaws and feathered plumes, brought ancestral heroes and mythical beings to life during performances.
Cultural Exchange (Art Theme)
The reciprocal influence and interaction between different cultures, often reflected in artistic practices, materials, and the presentation of objects.
Example:
The Presentation of Fijian mats and tapa cloths to Queen Elizabeth II vividly illustrates cultural exchange, showcasing a traditional Fijian offering to a foreign dignitary.
Female Deity (Nukuoro)
A wooden figure from Nukuoro, Micronesia, characterized by its abstract, simplified form, representing a female god or spirit.
Example:
The smooth, minimalist lines of a Female Deity from Nukuoro suggest a powerful spiritual presence, despite its lack of detailed features.
Function (Pacific Art)
The intended purpose or role of an artwork within its cultural context, often serving ritual, ceremonial, social, or spiritual needs rather than purely aesthetic ones.
Example:
The primary function of a Staff god was to embody a deity or spirit, making it a powerful object for religious rituals and community well-being.
Hiapo (tapa)
A type of decorated bark cloth from Niue, made by beating the inner bark of trees, used for clothing, ceremonial display, and artistic expression.
Example:
The intricate geometric patterns on a Hiapo cloth often conveyed specific cultural meanings and were used in important life events.
Local Materials (Pacific Art)
Natural resources readily available in the Pacific Islands, such as wood, feathers, shells, and fibers, which are fundamental to traditional art creation.
Example:
The exquisite Ahu 'ula feather capes showcase how Hawaiian artists masterfully utilized precious bird feathers, a key local material.
Malagan display and mask
Funeral ceremonies and associated art forms from New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, involving intricately carved masks, sculptures, and temporary structures to honor the deceased.
Example:
The elaborate Malagan display and mask rituals serve to guide the souls of the deceased to the afterlife and reinforce social bonds within the community.
Melanesia
A subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, recognized for its diverse ceremonial art and masks.
Example:
The vibrant Malagan displays and masks from New Ireland are central to complex funeral ceremonies in Melanesian cultures.
Micronesia
A subregion of Oceania, consisting of thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean, characterized by unique navigational and architectural achievements.
Example:
The intricate navigation charts from the Marshall Islands demonstrate the sophisticated knowledge of Micronesian seafarers.
Moai on platform (ahu)
Large monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island (Rapa Nui), typically placed on stone platforms (ahu) facing inland.
Example:
The imposing Moai on platform (ahu) figures are believed to embody the spirits of ancestors, watching over and protecting the island's inhabitants.
Nan Madol
An ancient ruined city built on artificial islands in Micronesia, constructed from massive basalt logs, serving as the ceremonial and political seat of the Saudeleur Dynasty.
Example:
The impressive scale and engineering of Nan Madol, with its intricate canal system, reveal the sophisticated societal organization of its ancient builders.
Navigation and Exploration (Art Theme)
A theme in art that highlights human ingenuity in traversing vast distances, understanding the natural world, and mapping territories.
Example:
The navigation chart from the Marshall Islands perfectly embodies the theme of navigation and exploration, representing centuries of indigenous knowledge about ocean currents and island locations.
Navigation chart (Marshall Islands)
A traditional navigational tool from the Marshall Islands, constructed from a lattice of wood sticks and shells, representing ocean swells, currents, and island locations.
Example:
A Marshallese navigation chart allowed skilled navigators to 'feel' the ocean's movements, guiding them across vast stretches of the Pacific without modern instruments.
Polynesia
A subregion of Oceania, comprising a large group of islands in the central and southern Pacific Ocean, known for its distinct cultural and artistic traditions.
Example:
The Moai statues of Easter Island are iconic examples of monumental sculpture from the Polynesian region.
Power and Authority (Art Theme)
A recurring theme in art where artworks symbolize or reinforce social status, leadership, control, or divine right within a society.
Example:
The Ahu 'ula (feather cape) exemplifies the theme of power and authority, as its rare materials and intricate craftsmanship were reserved for Hawaiian royalty.
Presentation of Fijian mats and tapa cloths to Queen Elizabeth II
A photographic documentation of a significant cultural exchange event in Fiji, where traditional textiles were presented to the British monarch.
Example:
The Presentation of Fijian mats and tapa cloths to Queen Elizabeth II symbolizes a moment of diplomatic and cultural connection between Fiji and the British Commonwealth.
Spirituality and Ritual (Art Theme)
A theme in art that explores religious beliefs, sacred practices, and ceremonial functions, often involving objects used in rites of passage or worship.
Example:
The Buk mask from the Torres Strait Islands is a prime example of spirituality and ritual, used in dances to connect with ancestral spirits and tell sacred stories.
Staff god
A religious artifact from the Cook Islands, typically a carved wooden staff adorned with human figures, feathers, and shells, representing a deity or ancestral spirit.
Example:
A Staff god was not merely an object but a vessel for spiritual power, often wrapped in bark cloth to contain its sacred essence.
Tamati Waka Nene
A portrait painting by Gottfried Lindauer depicting a prominent Maori chief and warrior from New Zealand, reflecting cultural exchange and indigenous leadership.
Example:
The detailed facial tattoos (moko) and traditional cloak in the portrait of Tamati Waka Nene emphasize his mana and cultural identity.