"Pluralism in art refers to the nature of artforms and artists as diverse. The cultural context of art is all encompassing in its respect for the art of the world's cultures. Inclusion of individuals of differing ethnicities, genders, ideologies, abilities, ages, religious, economic status and educational levels is valued. Pluralism honours differences within and between equitable groups while seeing their commonalities." (Cadwell, B.1999)
How would you describe New Zealand's current dominant culture?
According to Statistics New Zealand:
78% European / Other
14.6% Maori
9.2% Asian
6.9% Pacific peoples
English and Maori are the official languages of New Zealand ("New Zealand Language" 2010), but it's debatable whether the two leading languages support an idea of equality in New Zealand's culture. I would describe Europeans / Pakeha as New Zealand's current dominant culture. I am convinced of this not just because of the population statistics, but because of the culture that comforts the "kiwi lifestyle" in terms of annual European traditions such as Christmas and Easter. I am also aware of a larger success rate of American and European businesses
Before 1840, what was New Zealand's dominant culture?
I am led to believe that Maori were the dominant culture before 1840. As Maori were the original settlers and there are claims that it was only after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 and declaration of sovereignty that the number of immigrants, particularly from the United Kingdom, began to increase. ("British immigration and the New Zealand Company" 2010)
How does the Treaty of Waitangi relate to us all as artists and designers working
in New Zealand?
I feel the Treaty of Waitangi relates to us all as artists and designers in our contemporary society because it is a large fraction of New Zealand's cultural and historical background. Some New Zealand artists depend on this to produce ideas based around New Zealand's cross-cultural themes to individualise themselves from other artists in the national and international art scene.
"Each individual artist and student belongs to several overlapping cultures and subcultural groups. Art can communicate multiple identities within one culture as well as make cross-cultural comparisons. Artistic processes and products may also show cultural mixing." ("Cultural Contex",1999).
How can globalization be seen as having a negative effect on regional diversity in New Zealand in particular?
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| English singer-songwriter, Robbie Williams |
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| Former American boxing heavyweight, Mike Tyson |
I believe globalization can be seen as having a negative effect on regional diversity in New Zealand because there are societies outside of our nation that are using or replicating features of Maori culture and making it available for all sorts of purposes (eg. Maori tattoo designs as scene on celebrities. This is an issue because some of these features are not crediting New Zealand and therefore negatively effecting the nations tourism industry in terms of less tourists visiting the origin from where these features came from.
Shane Cotton's paintings are said to examine the cultural landscape. Research Cotton's work 'Welcome'(2004) and 'Forked Tongue' (2011) to analyze what he is saying about colonialization and the Treaty of Waitangi.
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| 'Forked Tongue'(2011) Shane Cotton |
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| 'Welcome' (2004) Shane Cotton |
I feel as though both these works express a sense of spirituality because there is a visual link between man and religious faith. This link is created from the birds Cotton has depicted in his works. The birds technically represent the space between the earth which man walks on, and the sky where man's faith watches over us. Not only does the inclusion of Jesus' face in Cotton's 'Welcome' present us with a sense of Christian faith, but the horizontal and vertical composition forming a cross does aswell. These visual links in Cotton's works depict ideas of colonialization as they introduce viewers to possible methods used by Missionaries to encourage Maori to follow a common European culture, that being faith in Christianity.
Research the work and comment on what Albert is communicating through his work, and what he is referring to.
Tony Albert's installation 'Sorry' (2008) reflects the effects of colonization on the aboriginal people of Australia.
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| Tony Albert | Australia b.1981 | Girramay people | Sorry 2008 |Found kitsch objects applied to vinyl letters | 99 objects : 200 x 510 x 10cm (installed) | The James C Sourris Collection.Purchased 2008 with funds from James C Sourris through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation | Collection: Queensland Art Gallery |
Describe the materials that Albert uses on this installation and say what he hopes his work can achieve. Define the term 'kitsch'.
The materials that Albert has used on this installation are of an ironic sense as he has applied these Australian aboriginal kitsch objects to vinyl, a European material that spells the word "sorry".
Tony Albert / Brisbane Interview:
"These objects that have been silenced for so long now have a voice, and that's what it's about. It's about giving all this imagery a voice of its own"
"People can feel good about putting it on their wall"
"It's empowering to all aboriginal people hopefully"
"It's that whole idea of taking something derogatory, or used against you, and putting it in a real positive light"
"Why have we remained strong or hopeful for so long? It is that something is going to change, something is going to get better, or it can get better, it can change."
Albert also describes himself as being "eternally optimistic"
From this interview I have determined that Albert hopes his work can empower aboriginal culture as he feels it gives the culture a voice which he feels supports the strength and hope that Australian aborigine's have for change to come to the cross-cultural issues within Australian society.
Explain how the work of both artists relates to pluralism.
I believe both these artist's works relate to pluralism because of their contrasting use of icons from individual cultures, which consequently creates a sense that the artists are putting each of the featured culture's differences aside to provoke a cross-cultural settlement.
Reference List:
- Cadwell, B. (1999) Cultural Context. Retrieved from http://www.public.iastate.edu/~design/ART/NAB/PluArt.html
- http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/language.html
- http://www.stats.govt.nz/
- "British immigration and the New Zealand Company" 2010. Retrieved from http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/history-of-immigration/3
- http://www.printsandprintmaking.gov.au/catalogues/work/52293/shane-cotton-welcome.aspx
- http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/shane-cotton-paintings-examine-cultural-landscape-126412
- "Tony Albert | Brisbane interview" (2010). Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=6afMy0rlqq8
- http://qag.qld.gov.au/collection/indigenous_australian_art/tony_albert
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