11.7.3
Tiki
The art of woodcarving is central to many Polynesian cultures. Tiki is a term used by the M̄aori in the past to describe a large humanoid statue carved of wood. Its name comes from the story of the first man, Tiki, from whom everyone is descended. Variations on this form of art can be found all over Polynesia, fromthe ti‘i in Tahiti to the ki’‘ in Hawai’i. While the Rapanui don’t have this exact art, it resembles the mo’ai statues on their island. Tiki figures are common in many Polynesian cultures, and the term tiki means ‘carving’. The most valuable M̄aori carving was the hei-tiki . In classical M̄aori culture, the hei-tiki was worn by high-ranking men and women during ceremonies, often hanging from a flax cord around the neck. The hei-tiki represented a human figure, usually with the head tilted to one side and hands on hips. Each hei-tiki had its own name and family history. The true meaning and origins of the hei-tiki are still not fully known. Some believe it comes from M̄aori mythology and the story of Tiki, the first man created by the god Tane. 11.7.4 Tatau During his eighteenth-century journeys of exploration, Captain James Cook wrote about the Polynesian art of skin decoration known as tatau. The British called it ‘tattoo’. Archaeologists believe that the Lapita people, ancestors of the Polynesians, were tattooed over 3500 years ago and carried the tradition with them on their great journeys of Pacific migration. In Polynesia tatau came to have great cultural and spiritual importance. Tatau gave Polynesians status because it signalled strength and power. The most elaborate tatau were reserved for the chiefs and warriors. A straight blade or bone chisel was used to inject a sooty pigment into the skin, leaving a grooved scar with the appearance of a carving. M̄aori tattooists were regarded as master craftsmen who took many years to perfect their skills. The colonising British outlawed the practice because it was considered the devil’s art, but it saw a revival in the twentieth century.
SOURCE3 A traditional hei-tiki ornament, showing the head tilted to one side and with hands on hips
SOURCE4 This early European depiction of a M̄aori ariki (chief) shows the intricately carved comb and jewellery that reflected social status. The tattooing is also visible.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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