An Artistic Voyage
The Austronesians number about 400 million people, who speak more than 1200 languages. It is an extraordinarily diverse group. The original Austronesians are said to have started out in Taiwan approximately 5,000 years ago. Then over a period of millennia, successive generations of migrants took to the sea, settling in far-flung places such as the Philippines, Hawaii, Madagascar and New Zealand. Such a varied and populous group is the focus of an ambitious exhibition being held over the summer at the Fowler Museum. There are nearly two-hundred items on display, exemplifying the visual arts of the entire Austronesian world.
One of the most exciting exhibits comes from Indonesia, in the form of a rare Lampung ‘ship-cloth’, or Palepai. These cloths pose something of a mystery to textile scholars, as nobody is quite sure what they were traditionally used for. However, evidence suggests that only those of very high status owned Palepai, and that they featured in wedding ceremonies of the Lampung aristocracy. The use of a supplementary weft as a decorative technique is typical of this region of the world, and gives the cloth a luxurious quality.
The imagery of the ship that characterizes Palepai shows how significant sea vessels were to the island people, and is a motif that features in many other forms of Austronesian art, providing a common link between these far-flung peoples. To the indigenous Tao people of Taiwan, who rely upon fishing for survival, boats are an indispensable aspect of their material culture. They are highly decorative vessels, as certain colours and designs are supposed to bring fortune at sea. When a new boat is launched, it is cause for great celebration.
The exhibits of Art of the Austronesians represent many different peoples, religions, techniques and styles. They display the rich diversity of Austronesian cultures, yet they also highlight the similarities between them.
Art of the Austronesians: The Legacy of Indo-Pacific Voyaging
Fowler Museum
Until 28 August 2016
One of the most exciting exhibits comes from Indonesia, in the form of a rare Lampung ‘ship-cloth’, or Palepai. These cloths pose something of a mystery to textile scholars, as nobody is quite sure what they were traditionally used for. However, evidence suggests that only those of very high status owned Palepai, and that they featured in wedding ceremonies of the Lampung aristocracy. The use of a supplementary weft as a decorative technique is typical of this region of the world, and gives the cloth a luxurious quality.
The imagery of the ship that characterizes Palepai shows how significant sea vessels were to the island people, and is a motif that features in many other forms of Austronesian art, providing a common link between these far-flung peoples. To the indigenous Tao people of Taiwan, who rely upon fishing for survival, boats are an indispensable aspect of their material culture. They are highly decorative vessels, as certain colours and designs are supposed to bring fortune at sea. When a new boat is launched, it is cause for great celebration.
The exhibits of Art of the Austronesians represent many different peoples, religions, techniques and styles. They display the rich diversity of Austronesian cultures, yet they also highlight the similarities between them.
Art of the Austronesians: The Legacy of Indo-Pacific Voyaging
Fowler Museum
Until 28 August 2016