Maori Statues
August 19, 2019
By AHNZ
Why are there few, or no, ‘Maori statues’? That’s an interesting question.
Statues commemorate outstanding individuals and are a feature of Western culture because it is focused on the individual. Maori culture is focused on the collective, the tribe, rather than outstanding men and women as persons in their own right who have achieved feats of excellence. Their achievements are considered to belong to the group and discussed in terms of one’s own proximity to them; “They’re my nephew,” “I went to school with,” etc.
Were Maoris to culturally appropriate the art form of statuary it would be a step away from what it is to be Maori so it wont happen. Especially if it were to be done in a realistic way rather than a stylised mythical composition of some totem or demigod.
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Image ref. Waihi Chief; Te Ara
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