Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 11, 1 November 1987 — Makaku [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Makaku

By Rocky Ka'iouliokahihikolo 'Ehu Jensen

Familiar Problems

Intersting article in Kahtou, an Indian newspaper from Vancouver, British Columbia. The native eolumnist Nahanee discusses the ethics of buying and selling Indian Art and culture. He mentions that museums and art collectors the world over "clamor to get a pieee of authentic Indian Art". To me, the mere awareness of such an art existing is a goal that I have been fighting

towards for 15 years. Although they appear to be successful in that their art is in demand, the problems that besiege their native artists are familiar. Like us, some of their art is good, "meaning thattheartist hasput agreat deal of time into perfecting his skills". On the other hand, there is lesser quality work created primarily to put "food on the tables and Pampers on the babies". In Hawai'i, we have somewhat of a parallel. . ,yes, some of our art is very good and some of the art is created not from a necessity to sell commercially, but rather involves a lazy, lackadaisical attitude, believing that the mere expression from a native artist, whether perfected or not, is sufficient. Although, I believe that eaeh individual has the privilege to create as he or she wishes, I find that this "sloppy" attitude is detrimental to the perpetuation of our artistic philosophy as natives.

Another problem that we share with the Pacific Northwest Indians is that there are those who believe that native art depicting "family crests or legends belonging to a particular tribe should not be sold to the public". I believe that copying our 'aumakua for eommercial resale is wrong. I do agree that a "new" image, depicting the essence of the family who commissions the pieee is within our rights as native artists. Unfortunately, due to the laek ofproperteaching, wehaveregurgitated our culture to death and again, due to improper indoctrination, our knowledge of symbolism is often made up and ignored, giving way to a personal conception that is oftentimes totally erroneous, causing further problems in communication.

I also wasn t too surpnsed to discover that we share another artistic horror in the guise of resin, plastic and shoe-polished wood duplicates created by various loeal merchants sold solely to capitalize on the only spiritually genuine artifact that the Polynesian possesses. In some instances I was told by those non-native merchants that they felt compelled to help us perpetuate our ancient culture by re-creating our 'aumakua indefinitely, selling them at the Bishop Museum and other fine reputable establishments. I would very mueh like to see an end to that sort of exploitation.

The proclamation of the end of our "kapu" all but wiped out the incentive for the creation of our "high art". Because of this, the stage was set for the cheaplymade duplicate whieh has virtually overrun our tourist market. Through the past 15 years, Hale Naua has influenced the public to perceive native art differently. . .and, now, in 1987 we have several movements that are claiming a rightful position in striving for that native artistic perfection that is necessary for proper eommunication.

"Rightly or wrongly, native artists ean make a good living off the talents that they do have." It is our right as native artist to eam that living, often deprived us by others who copy our work. Nahanee states that "Indians should be given medals for keeping their art alive for the day when our communities ean afford the luxury of displaying a totem, eanoe or whatever that has been commissioned by the community and paid for out of their own pocket." Here! Here! I wonder if our native corporate structures and also those missionary-con-ceived corporations realize that it is their responsibility to deal with us EXCLUSIVELY. They are truly responsible for maintaining, supporting and patronizing the native artist, mainly because he or she is the traditional speaker of the culture. Art is our true written language. Mai Ka Po Mai Ka 'Oia'i'o. Truth is before time immemonal!

Malki's acrylic painting of "Lu'ukia."