Post #386098 by Tamapoutini on Tue, Jun 10, 2008 4:36 PM

Interesting observation Sven - forgive a marooned Sth Seas islander who doesnt know the full history of US Tiki 'kulture' but..

Keeping in mind that the original US tiki-buzz was due to timely attraction to the 'Otherness' of Polynesian culture/art, perhaps todays US carvers are simply attracted to the 'old-skool' feel of the Poly-Pop and related US styles - with the added bonus of knowing its a homegrown invention and less likely to upset any native peoples..??

Also as a full time Tiki-maker myself I can understand the desire to produce contemporary work. I certainly cut my teeth on trying to reproduce the old pieces accurately (still striving for that one!) and the 'trad' hei-tiki still remains one of my stock standards; but realising that I live in contemporary times and work with contemporary tools, what would I be achieving by trying to pretend otherwise? Theres also that touchy subject of modern work being passed off as antique if the artist really nails a piece..

The Polynesian people were quick to adapt and accept new technology, and the modern Maori carver is producing 'traditonal' work that blows the old stuff out of the water simply because of the technology at hand. Take a modern workshop and a really long extension cord back in time and the old fellas would have done the same Im sure..

Ive found that most of the dedicated carvers here are taking reference from the old works and doing a fine job too considering most are self taught and centuries out of time/place.

As for the logs-with-teeth: I agree that after the original experimentation was over, ('purists' & brand-newbies excluded) followers should be slapped. Artistic merit sadly low.. Perhaps its just another sign of the times of the 'want it now & cheap' generation? Good work takes time..

my 2c