Pluralism is the development of accepting a variety of cultures.
"Pluralism in art refers to the nature of art forms and artists as diverse". (Caldwell 1999)
Artists that display Pluralism combine a mix of cultural techniques and references in their work.
2. How would you describe New Zealand's current dominant culture?
New Zealand has a very diverse culture, we are multi cultural and open minded overall. We a very welcoming to different cultures and that is why we have become and are still developing into a multi cultural nation.
"New Zealand has evolved from a bi-cultural treaty based nation into a multi-cultural, multi-racial country. New Zealand has attracted migrants from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, who bring with them new and exciting languages, religions, clothing, food, dances". (Dr Nagalingam Rasalingam, 2003)
3. Before 1840, what was New Zealand's dominant culture?
The Maori culture was the dominant culture before 1840 when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed.
4. How does the Treaty of Waitangi relate to us all as artists and designers working
in New Zealand?
Without the treaty we would not be where we are now. As a country we have to respect our cultral past and how we have developed over time. We also have to be mindful of the Maori culture as it symbolizes New Zealand on a global scale. Working as a designer who is proud or New Zealand should in some cases even reflect in our work. The Maori culture also sells as well as the "Made in NZ" approach, many New Zealanders want to by NZ made . We need to preserve our culture as a nation, especially as globalization becomes more apparent, we can do this as artists and designers.
5. How can globalization be seen as having a negative effect on regional diversity in New Zealand in particular?
In small places like New Zealand globalization can be seen as a threat to our culture. There is the potential threat of loosing the Maori history that has shaped New Zealand and has made us known on a global scale.
6. Shane Cotton's paintings are said to examine the cultural landscape. Research Cotton's work 'Welcome'(2004) and 'Forked Tongue' (2011) to analyze what he is saying about colonialization and the Treaty of Waitangi.
The piece welcome by shane cotton is made up of very symbolic imagery. The male head at the top symbolises Christ and the western influence. The head at the bottom represents the famous preserved maori heads. "Including the controversial motif of "upoko tuhituhi" or “marked heads” These heads represent the maori culture and ancestors. "In Cotton’s depiction of these ancestors and in referencing their after-life and the heavens, his work can be seen as a way to keep their identity and memory alive. The NZ bird the fantail, known as "Pīwakawaka or Tīwakawaka", is seen as a presence of death or "the goddess of death" in the Maori culture. The way that theses four images are balanced also resembles the shape of a cross, referencing religion. The combination of this imagery shows colonization and how it brought death through differences of culture and religion. The Pakeha, were dominant in this cycle, yet we remain as one.
 |
| Shane Cotton 'Welcome'(2004) |
In the piece 'Forked Tongue', Cotton uses very dark colours and imagery. This may reflect death and the blood that was spilt throughout the colonization between the Maori and the Europeans. "The two main symbols are spiritual in preoccupation". This is represented by the bird and the koru patterns. "The tumbling birds could be human souls trying to find an afterlife paradise". The random, linked red lines throughout the image may represent the journey that the two cultures experienced when merging into one cultures. The cliff could represents mother earth and the difficulty each culture experienced.
 |
| 'Forked Tongue' (2011) |
7. Tony Albert's installation 'Sorry' (2008) reflect the effects of colonization on the aboriginal people of Australia. Research the work and comment on what Albert is communicating through his work, and what he is referring to. Describe the materials that Albert uses on this installation and say what he hopes his work can achieve. Define the term 'kitsch'.
Albert's piece 'Sorry' is made from a combination of "Found kitsch objects applied to vinyl letters | 99 objects: 200 x 510 x 10cm (installed)". Kitsch objects are mass produced items that may be considered cultural icons. They are produced for a commercial purpose rather then sentimental value.
This piece is well known as Albert created it after the formal apology given to the native Aborigines of Australia by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the 13th February 2008. It symbolizes the countries colonization and the government acknowledging that the way they treated the Aborigines was wrong. It symbolizes cultural loss, hierarchy, racism and remorse.
"Tony Albert has captured this outpouring of emotion. He introduces us to a forest of faces, each sharing elements of history with those stolen from their people, land and culture. Each represents a false identity, manufactured black faces made to fit white society".
This was seen as a bold ironic piece that captured a important day in Australia's history. At the end of the day it is just four letters on the wall, though in this case those four letters can mean all the difference in a moment of forgiveness.
Both of these artists display pluralism through their works. They each use a combinations of cultures to display colonization and the issues that arise when two cultures collide.
Each artist honours the individual cultures and unites them at the same time. Each artist overlapped religion and belief to represent the transitions of culture, therefore displaying pluralism.
References
http://www.rc.org.nz/report1.html
http://cs.nga.gov.au/Detail-LRG.cfm?View=LRG&View=LRG&IRN=142200
http://www.gowlangsfordgallery.co.nz/editions/shanecotton.asp
http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/fantail1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Māori_mythology
http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/birds/land-birds/fantail-piwakawaka/facts/
http://www.wallaceartstrust.org.nz/
http://eyecontactsite.com/2010/07/pondering-the-marks-and-symbols-of-shane-cotton
http://qag.qld.gov.au/collection/indigenous_australian_art/tony_albert
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsch
No comments:
Post a Comment