New Zealand’s dominant culture would probably be European/ Pakeha (western) with a huge influence of the Maori and pacific traditions.
By 1840 there were approximately 2000 Europeans living in new Zealand, mostly in Russell as that was the first capital. The indigenous Maori culture was definitely the dominant culture but with the Europeans came diseases so the Maori population started decreasing, also the introduction of guns by the Pakeha contributed to the fast decline.
The treaty of Waitangi has had a huge influence on designers and artists in New Zealand as many Maori or Pacific artists use our indigenous culture to reference their work. Many artists use Maori symbols and language to create a sense of culture in their work.
How can globalization be seen as having a negative effect on regional diversity in New Zealand in particular?
With globalization comes the decrease of our indigenous culture. The western culture has increased drastically which can overpower the indigenous culture of new Zealand. 
'Forked Tongue' (2011) examines the physical, historical and spiritual landscape of New Zealand with the subjects being a cliff face, a fantail and Maori designs.
Tony Albert’s work “Sorry” (2008) was inspired by Kevin Rudd’s (Australian primeminister) formal apology to the aboriginal people of Australia for " the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians… for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.” Albert used “kitsch” objects applied to vinyl letters to form his “Sorry” piece, Kitsch is something “created to appeal to popular or undiscriminating taste”. It’s obvious why he used such objects when an event of resolved discrimination has currently taken place. The work is a collaboration of faces to represent those stolen from their people.
Both artists have looked at colonization and how it has affected the indigenous people of the land either negatively or positively. They have taken both the European and indigenous cultures into consideration.
Both artists have looked at colonization and how it has affected the indigenous people of the land either negatively or positively. They have taken both the European and indigenous cultures into consideration.
Nice work Maddy. I like the way Shane Cottons work uses a lot of symbols metaphors to put forward an idea or statment he is trying to make without being too direct. And Tony Alberts piece "Sorry" is definitely an interesting piece as it also has very a strong meaning behind it, especially for one who has Aboriginal blood in them. Its challenging the formal apology that Kevin Rudd made to the Aboriginal community and seeing if he will actually turn his words into action.
ReplyDeletehi maddy, I found reading your blog really helpful because I never noticed that 'Welcome' was arranged into the shape of a cross, which has all sorts of religious and sociological connotations about christianity and the influence of european culture on maori society. So I was looking at that picture and I couldn't find anything deep and useful to say about it until I read your blog. Then I quickly hustled back to my own blog and edited it so that it looks like I thought of it as well. Oh, and I like your point about the fantails maybe representing the land that binds the two cultures. (I might have borrowed that one as well, hope you don't mind)
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