Post #495534 by bigbrotiki on Tue, Nov 24, 2009 2:07 PM

I just recognized one peculiar aspect of my Tiki snobbishness:

Posting in the "Show your PNG stuff" thread by Humu, I was wondering why I have so little PNG stuff, when there is so much around (if one looks for it). So I realized:

A.) That very multitude might be one reason for it: While native production of "authentic" carvings seized in Polynesia over a hundred years ago, Papua New Guinea made a seemingly seamless transition from carving for tribal purposes to carving for tourists and export. And they were very good at it, meaning that their airport art looks very close to their old tribal pieces.

B.) So that is another reason why I might be that PNG-lame: The lack of modern stylized carving (PNG pop, if you will) -though there are great works out there, many that seem cartoony in their own right. And they DID hang them up in mid-century Tiki lounges!

Another irony is that I bemoan the fact that todays' Tiki producers have lost the artistry to weather and age their work so it looks more "authentic", something that the PNG artisans are ace at.

PLUS I am always speaking out against Tiki art that is TOO inauthentic, too cartoony.

So I think it is very snobby of me that my Poly pop artifacts must have JUST the right balance of inauthenticity and the right kind of stylization, not too much, not too little, and though PNG tourist art is "fake" (because it's not really that old), it is not fake enough for this Tiki snob! :)