Post #386342 by bigbrotiki on Wed, Jun 11, 2008 11:33 AM

I don't know how I can make myself any clearer than I have:

I LIKE traditional Tiki

I LIKE mid-century Tiki

I LIKE Tiki revival Tiki

I am critical of new Tiki that has no actual Tiki references in it.

This thread is NOT about what "bad" Tiki art or "good" Tiki art is in terms of talent or taste, that is a whole nother, definitely subjective matter. There's lots of both, but everyone has to decide on that for themselves.

I am merely pointing out that because of lack of context with its origins, some of contemporary Tiki art is in danger of
a.) becoming generic "monster face" cartoonery, with nothing left of "Tiki" in it, and
b.) repetitious, because of using only its pop self as reference.
I agree these are two separate problems, but they are also intimately related by what causes them: Lack of context with the originals that supposedly inspired them.

The stylistic elements of Tiki style are actually quite tangible and definable. They are a stylistic language that makes Tiki TIKI, and not ...Bavarian beer steins, for example. Now there are quite a few examples of art in the Tiki revival where I could ask the person:
"Point out the elements in the piece that make this a TIKI (meaning something resembling a Polynesian/Oceanic/Polynesian pop Icon)", and the person would be hard pressed to do so. Yet despite this, some folks seem to valiantly defend that person's right to call it Tiki. Why? Where does that end? I am all for "freedom in art", but that is not the same than a stylistic free-for-all.

Your book...Art? perhaps.
Tiki, an American art form? Most think so, yet you published your book with German text and English text...
I found it to be annoying and distracting, perhaps even arrogant. I would have done it different. I think I would have done it better/accurate/complete.

Boy, talk about an American Islander point of view. Ever consider that in order to give the public a book with that many pages of quality color reproductions for THAT affordable price, it needed to be sellable word-wide? (..and, that for 8 years, no American publisher touched the subject until a European one picked it up?) If you think you can do it better, be my guest. I am quite sure that no one else can do it like Taschen, god bless them. What sweet ignorance to call them (or even me) arrogant for having to be tri-lingual in their captions. Sigh.