Overview
Oceanic art and culture pertains to the creative efforts of the natives from Australia and the collection of the Pacific Islands, including Easter Island and Hawaii. With the prominence of male figures and the relevance of male initiation in several Oceanic societies, women seem to be a peripheral part of the culture. But, in reality, women have played a greater role in the Oceanic culture, especially by contributing to art. Historically, the artistic production of women was restricted to forms such as pottery, weaving, and barkcloth. Women were barkcloth makers in Polynesia and potters in New Guinea (Gardner & Kleiner, 2013, p. 1051).
Women were involved mostly in the living or religious art. In the Micronesia region, women were involved mainly in the creation of ornamental and textile art such as headbands and bracelets. The outcome of women making such products was several amount of quality artworks came to fruition due to practice simplicity. This is due to the fact that the culture of Oceania placed emphasis on the utilization of the limited resources handed to them. It is important to understand that Oceanic women had played a significant role in the continuance of the Oceanic culture. This is based on the fact that, Oceanic artworks completed by women such as the traditional architecture, ceramics, ornaments, weaving and textiles have managed to endure the western influence (Gardner & Kleiner, 2013, p. 1051).
The role of women in Oceanic culture and households was of homemakers, but women took giant leaps as their involvement is visible in products used for ceremonial use. Since, women had a major role in controlling life and creating power, the Oceanic society used to exclude women from several rituals. In some Oceanic cultures, women have right to participate in the society and helped in contributing through artworks and materials for the society. Oceanic culture was male dominated, but women contributed greatly to the culture and art, despite having a restricted role in a male dominated society (Gardner & Kleiner, 2013, p. 1051).
Depiction of Women
Oceanic culture manages to acknowledge the innate power of women in their depiction of women in the Oceanic art. Women were often flanked by the figures of men, and figures were surrounded by trees, sun disks and birds. For instance, Dilukali structure appears regularly on men’s houses, which is a celebration women’s power to procreate. As a sculpted wooden framework, the Dilukali honours women’s life and the role they played in the household by procreating. The Dilukai figure also confers protection of visitors and represents an acknowledgement of female power. The innate power of reproducing that highlights the importance of women to the culture and households. The Dilukai is a representation of women with armbands and jewellery, emblems of power and wealth and serves as the symbol of fertility and protection. The active participation of women was overlooked by scholars in Oceanic life and a great deal of research has helped in identifying the artistic and social involvement of women in Oceanic culture and artwork (Gardner & Kleiner, 2013, p. 1051).
Role of Women
Women played an active role in religious art. There is a noteworthy variation in the culture and artistic traditions of the Oceanic society. There is a common use and understanding of themes on either supernatural or fertility. The most common forms of Oceanic artworks containing women as the subject include painting, paintings, textile works and carving of either wood or stone. Women have a significant contribution in the rituals in maintaining social network that helped in stabilizing the village life. Therefore, women have an important role in terms of some religious practices and functioning of a healthy society in the region (Kleiner, 2009, p. 233).
In several Oceanic cultures, women are not allowed to use several materials or tools for artwork, and they are restricted from producing any image of that carries spiritual or religious significance. These restrictions clearly outline the way women were constrained to a specific role when it was a matter of religious practices. Denying women the role to be part of religious rituals ensured that men controlled the society and their role in the society as a dominant sex was perpetuated. Women were allowed to participate in some ceremonies of the culture, but the society ignored the use of sacred objects through the hands of women in the Oceanic culture (Kleiner, 2009, p. 233).
Examples of Artworks
One of the work of art that can be related to the role of women in Oceania is Dilukai. Dilukai is a female sculpture that is used in Belau bai, celebrating the procreating powers of females. The figure is used as a protection for the people visiting the bai, which makes the Dilukai a symbolic representation of the society and their understanding of female power. The use of Dilukai shows the role of women in the Oceanic culture as people consider women as the source of life and use sculpture made in female form as a source of protection against any harm (Kleiner, 2009, p. 233).
The Maori people in New Zealand face mark themselves with a permanent tattoo called Tā Moko. The indigenous people of New Zealand mark their face with tattoo and it represents their homage to their culture and an identification of their cultural heritage. There is a specific symbolism behind the Tā moko as many Maori people respect the tradition and willingly facemark themselves. There are many women tattoo chains that actively running that helps women get their face marked in the ancient manner. Women are most tattooed only under their lips and chin as it is considered a cultural norm (Government of New Zealand, 2009).
Women's arts in Oceania historically included soft materials, especially fibres used for making mats or bark cloth. Artwork by women included ephemeral materials like leaves and flowers. Cloth made from bark is called tapa across Polynesia; although its terminology, dyes, decorations and designs are different throughout the islands. The most important uses for tapa are as clothing, wall hangings and bedding. Often, textiles have been specially developed and decorated for leaders of the clan or people of rank. In addition, Tapa was displayed ceremonially on special occasions. In sacred contexts, images of deities were wrapped in tapa (Kleiner, 2009, p. 235).
Conclusion
The contribution of women in Oceanic art and culture is immense. Women are depicted as the nurturing source of life and protection in the Oceanic culture. Women are restricted from carrying out specific tasks, and their role is restricted. In religion and society, women play an important role as they treated as a source of life and their innate power is celebrated, but their role is restricted in rituals to ensure male dominance is perpetuated. Some of the famous art works that are related to women and life in Oceania are the Dilukai, Tā Moko, and bark cloth.
These three art works are examples of the interpretation of women in the oceanic culture.
References
Gardner, H., & Kleiner, F. S. (2013). Gardner's art through the ages: A global history. Sydney, Austrlia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Government of New Zealand. (2009). Tattooing. Retrieved 14 May 2016 from, http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/maori-art/page-9
Kleiner, F. S. (2009). Gardner's art through the ages: Non-western perspectives. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
