Around Merrie Monarch time - Filipe Tohi - a Tongan artist living in Autearoa - will be in Hawai'i to talk about his art.
Lalava is the old Polynesian art of lashing - which is/was a very functional activity done with all manner of materials - from sennit, to lauhala, to whatever. The most interesting thing about the art form - is that it is not strictly 2-dimensional - and that it has a "front" manifestation and a "back" one. It's like an oriental rug that has a front side and a back side - the sides being somewhat opposite from the other. However, lalava is more than just 2-dimensional - it may be 3-dimensional - and maybe it even has additional dimensions.
It contains, like Hawaiian stories, hidden meanings, philosophies, thought processes, multi-levels, and much more. The art provides a window to learn/study/practice the multi levels of Polynesian philosophy and world view. It boggles the western mind.
Filipe did a workshop in Hilo last year - to a standing room audience. And you should have seen some of the faces of those trying to understand what he was talking about. Jaws were dropping and little lightbulbs were flashing. The subject was close to be incomprehensible to many (of the western persuasion) - but everyone in attendence left with a new outlook on life and art.
If things go as are currently being contemplated (things are still in the planning process), a workshop is planned for Honolulu and a demonstration is planned for Waimea, Hawai'i island.
The demonstration in Waimea will take place on a newly constructed (but not finished) Hawaiian equivalent to an Autearoa marae - a melding of western architecture (outside) and a traditional Polynesian (Hawaiian) post and beam construction on the inside.
Watch for announcements and flyers that will be coming. However - not from me - as I'm leaving on an extended cultural visit to South America next week.
If you may be very interested - and don't want to risk not seeing a flyer, etc., maybe you can request to be added to an email list that you can propose - and I'm suggesting this without getting permission to do so and without giving any kind of notice (so be nice) - to - acurrie@hawaii.rr.com
ku/Clarence
Lalava is the old Polynesian art of lashing - which is/was a very functional activity done with all manner of materials - from sennit, to lauhala, to whatever. The most interesting thing about the art form - is that it is not strictly 2-dimensional - and that it has a "front" manifestation and a "back" one. It's like an oriental rug that has a front side and a back side - the sides being somewhat opposite from the other. However, lalava is more than just 2-dimensional - it may be 3-dimensional - and maybe it even has additional dimensions.
It contains, like Hawaiian stories, hidden meanings, philosophies, thought processes, multi-levels, and much more. The art provides a window to learn/study/practice the multi levels of Polynesian philosophy and world view. It boggles the western mind.
Filipe did a workshop in Hilo last year - to a standing room audience. And you should have seen some of the faces of those trying to understand what he was talking about. Jaws were dropping and little lightbulbs were flashing. The subject was close to be incomprehensible to many (of the western persuasion) - but everyone in attendence left with a new outlook on life and art.
If things go as are currently being contemplated (things are still in the planning process), a workshop is planned for Honolulu and a demonstration is planned for Waimea, Hawai'i island.
The demonstration in Waimea will take place on a newly constructed (but not finished) Hawaiian equivalent to an Autearoa marae - a melding of western architecture (outside) and a traditional Polynesian (Hawaiian) post and beam construction on the inside.
Watch for announcements and flyers that will be coming. However - not from me - as I'm leaving on an extended cultural visit to South America next week.
If you may be very interested - and don't want to risk not seeing a flyer, etc., maybe you can request to be added to an email list that you can propose - and I'm suggesting this without getting permission to do so and without giving any kind of notice (so be nice) - to - acurrie@hawaii.rr.com
ku/Clarence
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moRe: lalava
Fri, March 9, 2007 - 6:39 PMClarence, do you have any more specific information before I contact someone out of the blue? Merrie Monarch week is April 9-14. I'll be there, and would LOVE to see Mr. Tohi!!
Mahalo!
