Post #398263 by tikitees on Fri, Aug 1, 2008 2:31 PM

Quote:
"In my opinion, this is an example of too much human-like naturalism in Tiki sculpture. The essence of original Polynesian and other primitive art is abstraction in the cubist and modernist style, while maintaining a physical dynamic. This is why "primitive" art inspired the moderns of the 1920s in the first place, it was breaking with the naturalism of Western art. And this is where later the mid-century designers picked up from to put their spin on the art form. To marry a human body with a Tiki head is caricature and cartoon at best, but the same concept would be so much more compelling if it was done in a stylized, simplified, cubist way."

I can't speak for anybody else, but one reason I like Tiki is for the art of kitsch. To me, kitsch means that you can allow the image to evolve and become whatever, whether it's campy, naive, or what. It doesn't necessarily mean it automatically cheapens it. I also like Tiki for the serious history so I have a healthy respect for the meanings and traditions. But I don't think there's anything wrong with an artist making what he enjoys and if it provokes a good response then so be it.

Crap, I did a t-shirt last week for a church that had an icon of Jesus holding a Krispy Kreme box filled with sheep. If that ain't cheap, I dunno what is.