ART DU/OF VANUATU

Description

The art of Vanuatu is one of the least studied among Pacific Arts. Considered for a long time as the “second fiddle” of the orchestra arts of Oceania due perhaps due to the use of ephemeral materials, exuberant colors and sculptural forms wildly stylized. However, if certain specific types of Vanuatu artwork, such as wooden masks, drumsticks, food or weapons, were able to acquire a visible sheen caused by the passage of time, the caress of the user or the “ravages esthétisants” due to the weather because being provided for long use. By cons, almost all the ceremonial objects were manufactured for single use and perishable materials. It is the rank of sculptures tree fern, funeral effigies and ceremonial sculptures modeled with a paste of vegetable matter and sticky sap. These works of art in fact were not expected to last more than a few weeks or months as they are not designed to withstand time or to collectors passions.