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Selections From the OceaniaCollection of the
Indiana University ArtMuseum
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Where is Oceania? The vast area of the South Pacific
including: Polynesia, Melanesia,Micronesia
Some scholars also include Australiaand Indonesia
Thousands of islands, many of which
are still uninhabited
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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 tracetheir ancestry to the Gods
Artworks were considered precious familyheirlooms
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Mana and Tapu
In Polynesia, mana is a supernaturalenergy or power possessed by all things,both living and non-living
A priest or artist was thought to have a
great deal ofmana, while a commonperson would have less
Mana was believed to be inheritedthrough physical contact
A tapu (or taboo) is an assignedrestriction to protect mana. By followingthe prescribed action or avoidance, thetapu would ensure the mana did not loseenergy or power.
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Australia
Melanesia comes from the Greek word for black, referring to the dark-
skinned 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
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Micronesia is made of thousands of tiny islands, thus the name
micro from Greek which means tiny.
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European Exploration
Captain James Cook was a Britishexplorer who came to Oceania in the18th century
Europeans destroyed the culture ofOceania by the introduction ofreligion, and European diseases
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Hei Tiki (Pendant)Maori Peoples, New Zealand
19th Century
Nephrite and Haliotis shell
Made of most precious, darkgreen stoneInfused with mana by the artistand worn to increase the wearersmana
Meaning of this form is debated
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Female FigureHaapai Island Group, Tonga18th CenturyWhale ivory
Inter-island trade between
Tonga and Fiji makes itdifficult to tell where thiswas created
Ivory originally came frombeached whales, until theEuropeans made contact
Figure exemplifies ideals of
female beauty
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Fly- Whisk HandleAustral Islands or Tahiti,
Society IslandsBefore 1818Whale ivory, wood,vegetable fiber
Extremely rare object
Would have had fibers orfeathers on the end to swatflies and keep cool
Repetition of humanbodies implies the
importance ofmana and
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DrumAustral Islands
1800-1850Tamunu wood,
sharkskin, vegetablefiber
Hundreds of human
forms are carved intothis drum using metaltools
Made from hollowedlog, sharkskin, andvegetable fiber
The tone of the drum
can be modified by
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Stilt StepMarquesas Islands19th Century
Wood
Stilt tied to foot with brightlycolored fibers
Stilts used in games andceremonies to please thegods
The representation of ahuman form in Marquesanculture is called a tiki
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Crescent shape signifies the moon
Chest pieces were made of several types ofmaterials such as bone or shell
There was only one source of wood onEaster Island
Chest Ornament
Easter IslandWood, obsidian, bone
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Male Figure (MaoiKavakava)Easter Island
Early to mid 19th CenturyWood, obsidian, bone
Figure would have been
worn on a string orcarried during dancing
Easter Islanders wereabducted from their landand forced into slavery
Most of Easter Islandersdied due to slavery and
European diseases
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Pendant Necklace (LeiPalaoa)Hawaii1800-1850Walrus ivory, human hair,fiber
Worn by important manor woman
Each stand made of 90hairs
Hair and the head wereregarded as sacred
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Maori People, North Island,New Zealand
Canoe BailerEarly 19th Century
Heavy use indicated by
patina and chipping
Used to bail water out ofa war canoe
Stylized face with flaringnostrils and off-set eyes
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New Georgia Group,Solomon Islands
Canoe Prow Ornament19th CenturyWood, shell, pigment
Object to be placed on thefront of a canoe forprotection from weatherand enemies
Could have been used as asign of success or failure inraids
Shows t ical dress of
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Neo Village, Temotu, SantaCruz IslandsMale Figure (Munga Dukna)Wood, fiber, shell, turtleshell, turmeric
Image of a deity used
exclusively by men
Would have been rubbedwith ceremonial oils and
dressed in ornaments
Religious objects weredestroyed by Europeanmissionaries
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Northern Madak peoples,Malom Village, New IrelandMemorial Figure (Uli)Wood, lime, pigment, shell,sea snail operculum, fiber
Used as a commemorativefigure to honor the death ofa leader
Has both male and femaleanatomy
Face was originally paintedwhite
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Lower Sepik River area,Papua New Ginea
Commemorative FigureBefore 1908Wood, pigment, fiber
Represents an ancestoror mythological hero
Wearing a bilim, a bag
suspended from the neck
Red color signifies malestrength and virility
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Kambot or nearby peoples,Papua New Guinea
Mask
Constructed with many typesof materials including:wood,rattan, clay, cowrie shells,
nassa shells, boar tusks, human
hair, pearl shell, fiber
Ownership of pigs indicated
wealth, curly tusks veryvaluable
Shells were exchanged
between islands as currency
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Biwat peoples, Papua NewGuineaFigure for a sacred flute
Wood, shell, boar tusk,human hair cassowaryfeathers, fiber, pigment
Scared flutes wereextremely valuable
This would be inserted inthe end of a sacred flute
Elaborately decorated withshells, feathers, and humanhair
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Iatmul People, Papua NewGuinea
Mask (Mai)Late 19th or 20th centuryWood, pigment, cowrieshells
This is only part of anentire mask
A pair of these maskswould have been wornduring ceremonies
Mask would also be worn
by leaders during other
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Asmat peoples,Papau,IndonesiaSeated Female Figure
Before 1913Wood, pigment, seeds, fiber
Mimics a creation story
Created in honor of adeceased relative
Created by a master carver
Resembles a prayingmantis
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Erub Island, AustraliaMask
19th centuryTurtle shell, clam shell,resin, sennit, wood, humanhair, cassowary feathers
Made using hawksbillturtle shell
Intricate carving
Researchers did notclosely study Oceania untilit had already been
missionised by the
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Batak peoples,Sumatra,Indonesia
Priests hornWood, buffalo horn
Horn used by a powerfulritual specialist to heal sickand ensure success inmilitary endeavors
Has composite animal
forms
Batak people had contactwith the Hindu people
through trade and wereinfluenced b their desi ns
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Discussion Questions
What objects in our culture may beregarded as sacred?
What types of materials are foundlocally that could be used to createart?
How is the concept of ancestry and
genealogy discussed in your family?