TIKI GALLERY III by TwoPynts
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Description
Tikis come in all shapes and sizes, from small necklace ornaments to giant carvings. Many people even consider the giant Easter Island heads to be Tikis. Many of the Tikis I have in this series serve a functional as well as ornamental purposes, which I will reveal later. As you might be able to tell, most of them are carved from large wooden poles. Aside from the varied characters, what inspired me to photograph them was the interesting way the wood grain mapped the curves of their surfaces and the different colors the carving revealed. Olympus C8080 & PhotoshopCS. Thanks for stopping by and for your comments. Aloha and Mahalo! ----- Tiki Defined In Polynesian mythology (specifically: Maori), Tiki is the first man, created by either Tu Matauenga or Tane. He found the first woman, Marikoriko, in a pond. She seduced him and he became the father of Hine-Kau-Ataata. Also in Polynesian mythology, a tiki or hei tiki is a kind of sculpture which results in a carving in the shape of a god. Each tiki houses a spirit. The creation of tikis is known from all over Polynesia. Among the Maori of New Zealand, the women wear phallic talismans around their necks to protect from infertility. Tiki culture in the US Tiki culture in America began in 1934, when a man by the name of Don Beach, a.k.a. Don the Beachcomber, opened a Polynesian-themed eatery in Hollywood that was part tap house, part funhouse. There, guests could enjoy tropical Asian cuisine and exotic rum punches while surrounded by flaming torches, rattan furniture, flower leis and brightly colored fabrics. More than a decade later, a fellow named Victor Bergeron, better known as Trader Vic, adapted Don's formula for success and opened his own chain of tropical taverns, including locations in Atlanta, San Francisco and Beverly Hills. Around this time, the soldiers were returning home from World War II, bringing with them stories and souvenirs from the South Pacific. Americans fell in love with their romanticized version of an exotic culture, and Polynesian design began to infuse every aspect of the country's visual aesthetic, from home accessories to architecture. Soon came integration of the idea into music by artists like Les Baxter, Arthur Lyman, and Martin Denny, who blended the Tiki idea through jazz augmented with Polynesian, Asian and Latin instruments and "tropical" themes creating the Exotica genre. This music blended the elements of Afro-Cuban rhythms, unusual instrumentations, environmental sounds, and lush romantic themes from Hollywood movies, topped off with evocative titles like "Jaguar God", into a cultural hybrid native to no place outside the San Fernando Valley. Tiki exotica was introduced with Martin Denny's Waikiki nightclub combo cum jungle noises cover of Baxter's Quiet Village. Tiki rode a wave of popularity in the late 1950s and early 1960s marked by the entrance of Hawaii as the 50th state in 1959 and the introduction of Tiki hut cocktail bars and restaurants around the continental United States. Tiki exotica is now enjoying a resurgence in popularity, and Tiki mugs and torches that once collected dust in thrift stores are now hot items. (Taken from the Answers.com website.) -----
Tiki Series Tiki Gallery I Tiki Gallery II
Comments (26)
gwfa
shall I take them serious?? ;-)
cbender
hi folks - how are you...?!?
marybelgium
Excellent... !
Bennetz
Funny, beautiful and fascinating tikis!!
Djeser
This series just cracks me up; I lived in Hawaii for 9 years, and spent time on the Big Island where I remember tiki's at City of Refuge, among other places. I always loved going to the museum and seeing them too. These modern tiki's have wonderful personalities; can't wait to see more! Love the way you've put them together.
tibet2004uk
Haha!! I love these!! They are funny ones with funny faces! Surely the Gods of Party time! ;)
pimbotin
Still excellent. I love them all!
Chaos911
wow, one super good shot!!! excellent!!!
soulofharmony
love the information learning something new, and finding it intruiguing, know of tiki and maori etc.. but never the mythology behind the customs...cant wait for more.. along with your perfect illustrations in photography.. awesome . mr twopynts..:)..)))
Egmont
An interesting series for sure and presented like postcards ready to be sent to a friend.
fap77
Excellent!
danob
Love to see such carvings Bravo
GiMi53
Looks like a fabulous series ! (as I'm reviewing in reverse order, I will continue with great pleasure !) Thank you very much also , Kort, for the detailed explanation ! The one in the middle reminds me someone... hi hi ! :~)
Akinom
You just have to laugh with the left one! And the right one made me wink back LOL A fascinating series, Kort! Excellently presented and interesting info to go with! Thanks!
Cosme..D..Churruca
Genial these Tikis... love it ! Thanks for this series !
Richardphotos
there was a Trader Vic's here in Dallas at one time along with a hotel and the moffit was along the restaurant. It has been closed for many years, but I still remember the huge wood heads that was out front. excellent capture and quite comical
logiloglu
lol,fantastic expressions. great light and tones. an expressive serie,Kort. #:O)
sharky_
Very interesting series. I've never seen so many different types of Tiki faces before yet I live here in Hawaii, lol. Now you got me watching every corner looking for a Tiki... Beautiful Job. Aloha
watapki66
A very interesting series, love the expressions!
Punaguy
These are not the typical tikis....looks like someone took some liberties with their faces..but none the less pretty funny expressions here! Great even captures on these! Keep em coming Bra! Aloha~
cynlee
their own version of the 3 stooges! :]
Michelle A.
Heheh.... these Tiki's are very cool.... love the humorous expressions.....
hotracer2
Again such humor...the Three Stooges look alike:):):):):)...love the history behind these:):):):):)
KiwiMiss
Ohh I love that one on the left hehe
MoppelundWilli
stunning presentation!
sossy
very interesting series and I love all the funny and mad expressions! ;o)