Tiki in Architecture
Judith Robinson is a conjoint lecturer in design at the University of Newcastle (Australia) and is currently a M Phil (Architecture) research student.
Remnant architectural and other features of Tiki made before the 1820 iconoclasm tell of Tikis’ former function: there were six broadly prevailing architectural contexts for Tiki across Pacific Oceania before 1820. As cultural ambassadors of Pacific societies hand carved Tiki souvenirs and limited edition Tiki collectables now highlight cultural links to the Pacific region. In the past two hundred years, however, the message conveyed by Tiki has changed: the architectural context of Tiki has also changed.
House Post figure. Ancestor figures and Atua deities were carved into the supporting posts of houses and meeting houses. This example is from Santa Ana, Solomon Islands. (After a sketch by S. Villiers P.282 Tiki Pop Kirsten 2014.) Sketch by Judy Robinson.
The above is a glimpse of the ESCAPE AND CAPTURE exhibition of Tiki souvenirs by Judy Robinson at Senta Taft-Hendry Museum, University of Newcastle Australia
Judy will present in the Augmented Memory and Place Telling Panel