CULTURE
Sculpture
Sculpture is one of the major arts of French Polynesia. Initially,
pieces of art were produced on all 5 archipelagos. Nowadays, most
sculptures you will find along your trip are produced in the Marquesas
islands.
Polynesia
sculpture is characterised by some kind of mystical power that
seems to emanates from the subjects chosen by the artist, often
inspired by old original designs and patterns.
The
Tiki is a human representation of a divinity. It will be frequently
encountered on markets. But you will also find some weapons such
as spears and "head blowers", musical instruments (toere,
ukulele) and cooking ustensils (umete).
The
material used for sculpture is mostly wood and sometimes stone,
mother-of-pearl or bone.
Weaving
Originally, this was a specialty of the Austral islands. It can
now be found on most Polynesian markets. The wood used for weaving
is usually pandanus, although you may see some pices made out
of coconut leaves (niau) or local bamboo (ofe). Common articles
are hats, baskets and mats (peue).
Tatoos
As the practice of tattooing has existed in the Polynesian
triangle for hundreds of years, it was probably known by the first
migrants before they settled in the islands of French Polynesian
islands. The words “tattoo”, “tatoo” and
“tattow” come from the Tahitian word “tatau”
(that can be translated by “hitting repeatedly”) that
was used to describe the practice of writing indelible marks on
human skin. This practice had been ignored by Europeans until
Cook discovered it during his trip to the Marquesas islands. He
wrote in his diary “they print signs on people’s body
and call this tattow” (Voyages of Captain Cook by Banks).
Omain, the first Tahitian to embark to Europe, became rapidly
famous partly because of his tattoos.
The tattoo,
always alive in the history of humanity, reached a particularly
developed status in Polynesia. Due to its geographical isolation
and its resistance to the occidental culture, tattoos from the
Marquesas islands constitute the most accomplished style in the
Polynesian triangle.
