Maori Art and Design is the first book to present a comprehensive art language for Maori visual culture.
By Julie Paama-Pengelly, it traces the evolution of historic Maori art and design, across the full range of disciplines: weaving, painting, carving and architecture.
Paama-Pengelly has produced a valuable resource to interpret historic Maori
art, now being recognised as a dynamic and credible mainstream visual culture, integral to both New Zealand and the international art scene.
In Maori Art and Design, eminent Maori author Paama-Pengelly writes about the importance of seeing this art and design through Maori cultural heritage, rather than a Western viewpoint.
According to Julie, ''Maori did not separate art from other aspects of culture; art was central to all activities and all objects''.
Maori used art and design to communicate ideas, knowledge and values.
The patterns on a carved prow of a war canoe imbued the object with greater significance.
The Mataora tradition of the art of ta moko (or tattooing) was to affirm a whakapapa or genealogical link between the Maori and their gods, as well as telling stories of origin.
Through clear illustrations, contemporary and historic photographs and charts, the book interprets the cultural and spiritual meanings in Maori art.
Readers can identify common motifs that distinguish designs, such as koru, tiki and mokomoko.
This new book is a significant resource and will be used for years to come, allowing art lovers and students to reference contemporary Maori art and design.
Chapters focus on four major disciplines:
*Weaving: includes tukutuku, kitemaking, basketry, netting and clothing.
*Paintings: includes rock drawing and painting wooden objects.
*Architecture: includes villages, storage and meeting houses, burial structures and bone containers.
*Carving: includes stone, bone, wood carving and patterning.
Paama-Pengelly is of Ngai Te Rangi (Bay of Plenty) descent and is an artist, writer and educator of contemporary Maori arts. She holds a Masters of Development Studies, a Masters (Honours) in Maori Visual arts, and is writing her PhD on ta moko through Massey University.
She lives with her family in Ohope.
The book's foreword is by Professor Robert Jahnke, chair and head of Te Putahi a Toi at Massey University.
