Tuesday, July 1, 2008






Oceanic
Polynesian art was used only for decoration and was symbolic for mythological significance
Objects from different Islands have found to be unique
In Tahiti it was simple wooden and stone images that had no pattern as on Easter Island, where as, in Rorotonga, the human statues were stylised and generic.
In Samoa the only decoration is normally two narrow bands around an artwork
A point to remember is all around Polynesia most patterns have human figures as a basis
The nineteenth century brought large changes in Polynesian Art the change to Christianity brought a decrease and cease of sculptural heritage more secular artistic tradition became more important such as: women’s artwork, bark cloth, intricate plaited mats and men’s art forms, headrests, food pounders and bowls
Western technology sparked a renewed interest with acquiring steel carving tools making artistic carved paddles, ceremonial adzes, bold figurative painting traditions and Maori rank insignia and luxury goods of the Hawaiian monarchy.
Pictured is a early 19th century sash known as a lafi worn over one shoulder and secured at the waist it is 363.9 cm, created on the Island of Futana
Materials: plant fibre
Textile plant fibre
Pigment L
Made of bark cloth and decorated the ends of the sash are adorned with geometric patterns and painted freehand the central part of the sash is sparsely decorated with motifs this sash is worn with a headdress and a large skirt for dancing. Also pictured is a bark cloth panel
Designs were very structured a lot of thought process went into the pieces. Colours are earthy with geometric designs contrasting light and dark carvings were short or squat with bold patterns but also intricate.

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/11/ocp/ht11ocp.htm
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/10/ocp/ht11ocp.htm
http://www.art-andarchaeology'com/timelines/oceanic/polynesia.html
http://www.janeresture.com/oceanic_art/polynesia.htm





Mosaic is the art of creating images with small pieces of colored, glass, stone or other material Small tiles or fragments of pottery (known as tesserae, diminutive tessellae) or of coloured glass or clear glass backed with metal foils are used to create a pattern or picture.
Mosaics of the 4th century BC are found in the Macedonian palace-city of Aegae, and they enriched the floors of Hellenistic villas, and Roman dwellings from Britain to Dura-Europos. Splendid mosaic floors are found in Roman villas across north Africa. In Rome, Nero and his architects used mosaics to cover the surfaces of walls and ceilings in the Domus Aurea, built AD 64.
The mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily are the largest collection of late Roman mosaics in the world and are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other important examples of Roman mosaic art in Sicily were unearthed on the Piazza Vittoria in Palermo where two houses were discovered. The most important scenes here depicted Orpheus, Alexander the Great's Hunt and the Four Seasons.
The floors of Roman buildings were often richly decorated with mosaics, many capturing scenes of history and everyday life. Some mosaics were bought 'off the shelf' as a standard design, while the wealthy villa owners could afford more personalised designs. Some of the finest Roman mosaics in Britain can be seen at Fishbourne Roman Palace and Bignor Roman Villa.
Romans were using basic elements of design in patterns of dots creating line tone and using colour to make it look 3 dimensional imagery and border pattern that surrounded people animals gods, nature, angels, cupids, creating exquisite art works and images, they not only did these mosaics on the floor but on ceilings walls entrances motifs. All these marvels were made from basic materials. Inspiring building a design for many future generations past and present.

http://www.tours-italy.com/rome/mosaics.htm
http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/history/index.shtml
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac36
http://www.greekmosaics.com/History.htm
http://www.classicalmosaics.com/photo_album.htm
http://www.dimosaico.com/pages/mosaic.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/mosaics_gallery.shtml
http://www.hp.uab.edu/image_archive/ulj/uljc.html
http://www.mosaicmatters.co.uk/mosaics/index.htm
http://www.sussexpast.co.uk/property/page.php?sp_page_id=17&page_link_id=17