Post #387890 by BigToe on Wed, Jun 18, 2008 1:40 PM

I love this discussion. The idea that any of us haole artists has any right to call ourselves a tiki artist is a joke. As a student of Polynesian culture (particularly Hawaiian, Tahitian and Sa'moan), personally i do (believe it or not) have heavy reverence for the culture of the 'travelers'. But painting theological iconography is pretty dry stuff. If i painted Jesus, he would have googley eyes too.

But the rank and file TC member isn't here for a scholarly exploration of Polynesian 'religion' and iconography, it's a light-hearted celebration of the lifestyle invented by decorators in the 50's. At the end of the day, a fanciful view of the hedonistic tropical lifestyle as escape from 'here and now' is what has always defined and drives our love of 'tiki'.

For me, 'Tiki Art' IS Poly Pop. Anyone who is stoked on the idea of the Tiki God and inspired to create art is a tiki artist.

To be blunt, unless the artist has Polynesian blood and is practicing the polytheistic faith of one island or another, it's not TRUE tiki art, anway, is it?? I'm going to stop short of saying that all haole tiki art is an insult to polynesian cultural beliefs, but let's keep it all in perspective.