Art History - week 14 - 27/05/2019

My essay topic I have decided on,
Understanding attitudes and values: Maori Art

(1) With examples:  Explain The Concept of Taonga and what it means in the context of telling New Zealand histories. Do this with two cited examples.

(2 )   Discuss the question of ownership of Maori objects and stories.  Do this with reference to Maus’ gift exchange theory.     Relate this to perceived differences in the interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi with regard to land ownership and sovereignty.

(3)    Identify and discuss 2 examples of appropriation of Maori artefacts images and brands with regard to effects and consequences not just for Maori but all New Zealand peoples.   (  ‘All peoples’ covers,  besides Maori,   Pacifica, Pakeha,  Asian and Middle Eastern ethnicities.)

I chose this one because I am interested in the idea of gift exchange and what makes an item Tonga and how it becomes Tonga, and if it is translated over other cutlers and religions. 

The idea of the gift being linked to the giver of the gift. 

I am also intrested in how Tonga is such a huge part in New Zealand history, and how it is represented in museums. 

I also am very interested in Maus' gift exchange theory, and would like to further investigate and interrogate the idea of being linked with a gift and the Tonga behind gift exchange.

I also like to further look into the idea of appropriation within museums, or fashion rather than the hole spectrum. As I am very interested in appropriation of Tattoos, jewelry and clothing But also if there is such thing as appropriation within displaying of artifacts. 

Artist: 

Megan Jenkinson

"Megan Jenkinson is an Associate Professor at the Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, New Zealand. She works primarily in the medium of photography and has exhibited over a 30 year period, both nationally and internationally. Including the Esslingen Photo Triennale, 1989, the Sydney Biennale, 1990, and the Sharjah Biennale in 1999, and in significant exhibitions such as Photography Now, 1989 at the Victoria and Albert Museum (to commemorate the first 150 years of photography)." (Ocula.com, 2019)

"Megan Jenkinson elegantly engages digital photographic techniques to explore notions of perception and illusion in relation to landscape and history. Having undertaken journeys to Antarctica, Egypt and the Sahara Desert, her works often evoke the contemplative isolation one experiences in vast open spaces. Inspired by naturally occurring illusions, she has recreated through lenticular print technology the visions of non-existent islands that fooled early Antarctic explorers, the majestic Aurora Australis, and the elusive vistas of Oases that taunted desert travellers.

Megan Jenkinson began exhibiting her photographic works during the 1980s, and has been included in seminal shows such as the Sharjah Biennale (1999), the Sydney Biennale (1990) and Photography Now, Victoria & Albert Museum, London (1989). Recent group shows include Cutting Edge: 21st Century Photography, Monash Gallery of Art, VIC (2015-2016), Conquest of Space: Science Fiction and Contemporary Art, Collage of Fine Art, NSW (2014) and Penguins and Ice: Photographs of Antarctica 1910-2010, National Gallery of Australia (2011-2012). She has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards and has work held in institutions including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Australia, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland Art Gallery, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, and The Victoria & Albert Museum, London." (Stillsgallery.com.au, 2019)

M. Jenkinson (1987) The Romantic rebellion 
(Auckland Art Gallery, 2019)

M. Jenkinson (1987). Before the fall
(Auckland Art Gallery, 2019)

I love this work, I love all her work that I have seen so far and I think it is to do with how she displays her items and how shes creates a cohesive colour pallet that is not over whelming to the eyes. I also think this is due to the composition of where everything is laid out is a component of why it is visually pleasing to look at. I would be very interested in experimenting with this type of technique. As I you can expand this technique and use in to explore many ideas. I would like to use this idea or technique with my project next years. 

Bill Hammond

"W D (Bill) Hammond is a Lyttleton artist, born in 1947. He attended Canterbury University School of Fine Arts. His work tackles social and environmental issues, conveying messages about humanity and its status as an endangered species.

He has a strong interest in music, which can be seen in much of his early work. A shift in Hammond’s practice came in the early 1990s after he returned from a trip to the remote Auckland Islands, where there are no people and birds still rule the roost. Hammond imagined himself in old New Zealand, before even Māori had arrived. His work includes themes of environments under threat, and the vulnerability of life in a precarious world." (Mcleaveygallery.com, 2019)

References:

Auckland Art Gallery. (2019). Before the fall. [online] Available at: https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/explore-art-and-ideas/artwork/6916/before-the-fall [Accessed 26 May 2019].

Auckland Art Gallery. (2019). The Romantic rebellion. [online] Available at: https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/explore-art-and-ideas/artwork/6917/the-romantic-rebellion [Accessed 26 May 2019].

Mcleaveygallery.com. (2019). Bill Hammond • McLeavey Gallery. [online] Available at: http://mcleaveygallery.com/artists/bill-hammond/ [Accessed 27 May 2019].

Ocula.com. (2019). Megan Jenkinson Artist | Artworks, Exhibitions & Biography | Ocula. [online] Available at: https://ocula.com/artists/megan-jenkinson/ [Accessed 26 May 2019].

Stillsgallery.com.au. (2019). Megan Jenkinson - Stills Gallery. [online] Available at: http://www.stillsgallery.com.au/artists/jenkinson/index.php?obj_id=bio [Accessed 26 May 2019].