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Artists In The Pacific: Both Past and Present

Artists are a unique and special segment of our population. All Throughout history artist have recorded the culture, the thoughts and habits of the region and the times that they lived in. Artists have a voice that speaks volumes and never utters a word but through their visual interpretations we understand. The artists of the pacific past have forged a legacy for the artist of today in that region. Oceanic Art commonly referred to as Pacific Art is clearly important to the history of this region. This includes art from the indigenous people of Australia, New Zealand and all the islands between New Guinea and South Africa. This type of art consisted mainly of artifacts used in everyday life. Today we find artist like Theodore Ah Wong who is of Samoan and Chinese descent. His art provides an in depth look at the Samoan lifestyle through the traditional motifs expressing the tatau or tattoo and the Siapo which is bark cloth imprinted with designs by the Samoan women. Then there is the contemporary artist, Ledua Peni Tuicake whose work displays the stories passed down from generation to generation in a visually stunning depiction that captures the very essence of the culture of Fiji. The language is clear and the legacy is still being passed.