What defines

TSA Tiki Shark Art Member Joined: Aug 31, 2006 Posts: 3978	TSA Tiki Shark Art Posted posted on Sun, Jun 22, 2008 4:28 PM Very interesting subject. I think about it on every piece. Actually, I agonize over it. Is it "tiki"? I want it to be "tiki" but not too "tiki". Personally, I seek NOT to recreate an exact image of an actual historical Hawaiian tiki. 2 reasons: 1.) It's not my culture, and to do so, I would feel like a poser. 2.) I'm superstitious, I don't want to draw the attention of some supernatural being by making a likeness of it. I live on an active volcano. I've seen some weird unexplainable stuff, and I've heard many "talk story" of bad things happening. I don't want trouble like that. But, heck, the KAPU religious system was thrown down by the Hawaiians in 1819, and Hawaiiana culture IS my culture. I grew up watching Gilligan's Island, and The Wonderful World of Disney. My mother played lounge and exotica music in the 60's. That's the stuff I can relate culturally to, and honestly talk about as an artist. "Tiki Culture" is not always looked upon well here in Hawaii. I had someone looking at my art the other day. They reacted shocked. They thought I was digging up all the culturally abrasive Bad Taste that the Hawaiian culture has been fighting against since the 70's. Funny, they were white. The Hawaiian folks who've seen my art are ok with it. (so far) But, I'm not like, prancing into a sovereignty meeting and slapping my work up on the walls. Not sure how it'd go over. Anyways, great subject. Tiki Shark http://www.tikishark.com http://www.myspace.com/Lotus_Land [ Edited by: Tiki Shark Art 2008-06-23 21:32 ]

Very interesting subject.
I think about it on every piece. Actually, I agonize over it.
Is it "tiki"?
I want it to be "tiki" but not too "tiki".

Personally, I seek NOT to recreate an exact image of an actual historical Hawaiian tiki.
2 reasons:
1.) It's not my culture, and to do so, I would feel like a poser.
2.) I'm superstitious, I don't want to draw the attention of some supernatural being by making a likeness of it. I live on an active volcano. I've seen some weird unexplainable stuff, and I've heard many "talk story" of bad things happening. I don't want trouble like that.

But, heck, the KAPU religious system was thrown down by the Hawaiians in 1819, and Hawaiiana culture IS my culture. I grew up watching Gilligan's Island, and The Wonderful World of Disney. My mother played lounge and exotica music in the 60's. That's the stuff I can relate culturally to, and honestly talk about as an artist.

"Tiki Culture" is not always looked upon well here in Hawaii. I had someone looking at my art the other day. They reacted shocked. They thought I was digging up all the culturally abrasive Bad Taste that the Hawaiian culture has been fighting against since the 70's. Funny, they were white. The Hawaiian folks who've seen my art are ok with it. (so far) But, I'm not like, prancing into a sovereignty meeting and slapping my work up on the walls. Not sure how it'd go over.

Anyways, great subject.

Tiki Shark

http://www.tikishark.com
http://www.myspace.com/Lotus_Land

[ Edited by: Tiki Shark Art 2008-06-23 21:32 ]

Post #388763 by Tiki Shark Art on Sun, Jun 22, 2008 4:28 PM