Polynesian Kitsch Painting

Hi,

I want to stress that this is NOT my art.
I am hoping someone here can help me identify the genre and artist
Details: 40cmx80cm - acrylic on canvas mounted on ply board. It is signed Ron or Rom on lower left corner.

I have been researching online and found genres Hawaiiana and Tiki art, typified by artists such as, among many, Jim Kingwell, Belinda Leigh, Carole Armstrong, Brad Parker and the inimitable Thor - Tom Thordarson.

As I am not sure if this is Hawaiin, but think it may be Polynesian, I'm thinking this painting probably falls into the Polynesian Kitsch genre.

Any help to identify the actual location, artist or genre of this work will be greatly appreciated so I can give credit where credit is due. I would also appreciate it if anyone knows similar works, or works by this artist, to give me links or tags I could follow to find them.

Cheers!

[ Edited by: Anua22a 2011-07-31 22:13 ]

I think the genre is most likely Sofa Painting

Haha, thank you, Sweet Daddy, a new pop art genre I was not aware of!

I would actually attribute this piece to the world wide genre of Airport Art. I am not a specialist on this subject, but the style of quick brush strokes point to an assembly line form of manufacture, where the piece is finished (though by hand) in the shortest amount of time, to allow mass production for a low price. I believe these kind of paintings are produced in the Philippines or somewhere in Pacific Asia, but sold everywhere where there are palm-studded beaches and tourists looking for mementos of their vacation, from Puerto Rico to Africa to Hawaii.

Airport Art does find its way into the Tiki Lounge, foremost thru Papua new Guinea carvings, and Hawaiian/Tahitian souvenirs, but it is nowhere as unique as mid-century mainland U.S.A. produced Tiki style art.

lol. Great replies and so quick! I'll go chasing the refs. The pic of the Airport art is right on the money. Thanks to you both

Love it....I think "Sofa Art" is a great term. A related art form I see A LOT of for sale at the shops in Waikiki is the ubiquitous "Fan Art"...exactly the same type of mass-produced hand-painted vague tropical scenes painte on huge fans to also go above the sofa. I especially like the ones with exploding volcanoes.