Post #275389 by hewey on Thu, Dec 28, 2006 9:36 PM

One thing Ive been mulling over for a while, particularly since the �shot in the arm thread�, is the issue/topic of whether tiki art/tiki artists have an objective. Without a doubt, creating good looking work is paramount to pretty much all tiki art.

But when comparing tiki art to more mainstream/highbrow art, one of the biggest differences I see is a lack of political and social observations/criticisms. I would suggest that very few tiki artists create work that challenges the audience to think beyond �oooh, that�s pretty�.

Which is fair enough. For most of us tiki art is about great times and good old-fashioned escapism and romanticism. From a sociological/psychological perspective, many of us were self-confessed nerds at school. And its well known that many nerds escape into fantasy worlds via books, movies, cubby houses etc. Given the global political/war issues, and everyday issues like bills, work etc, its not surprising we like to kick back with our feet up, Mai Tai in hand, and escape the everyday. Hey, that�s how Poly Pop started isn�t it? And its great to do this sitting in your bar area, admiring the bright and fanciful colours of your Shag print.

But sometimes I find myself wanting more. Wanting a bit more substance, a bit more bite? A proverbial shot in the arm. Take Shag for example. His art looks great, without a doubt. But not many of his pieces REALLY draw me into his paintings. There�s a few that encourage you to develop your own backstory, like the pieces along the lines of the magic 8 ball � �signs point to yes�, and the piece �Heavy religious conversation�. But by and large, it�s a case of �That�s pretty. Next� for me.

I find the art of Thor a lot more engaging. Again, stunning, STUNNING art. Positively drool worthy in my books. As he has commented before, a lack of people in his paintings encourages people to imagine themselves in the painting (theres that escapism thing again). And pieces like his drink making machine series, they make you grin and look at them for ages imaging the machine in full operation. I also love stuff like spending ages looking at art from artists like Little Lost Tikis, with soooo many hidden tikis, or the details and use of light in tiki shark art�s work. Art that is pretty and engages you with the subject/scene.

But I struggle to find tiki art that goes beyond this level of engagement. Art that grabs you by the balls, stares you down, and asks �What the hell are you looking at?!� Within poly pop there are issues that people get fired up about � take the whole traditional vs. poly pop style clash, demolition of old tiki bars etc etc. Why don�t we see tiki art making social commentaries on these issues? How about a depressed tiki sitting outside an old A-frame bar with an eviction/demolition notice on the door? Or even tiki themed art that makes criticism of global politics or something?

Within wider �lowbrow� art, there is more emphasis on �darker� more political and social themed work. But even there, there�s the whole so-called �unibrow� phenomenon of �same-old same-old� art with no punch.

So, basically I want to discuss �the point� of tiki art. Yes, I totally agree that primarily aesthetic art is, and always will be the main focus of the majority of tiki artists. But does tiki art need a shot in the arm, a bit more punch?

Kustom Kahoona* - Tiki and Hot Rod Art by Hewey*

[ Edited by: hewey 2006-12-30 19:39 ]