AS 90913: Tracey Tawhiao Subversion - Blog Post 1

1. Subversion in Art: read, take notes, link the article.

- Art came into existence to educate, challenge, inform, inspire, and outrage us. 

- Subversion in art is one of the reasons why it exists.

- Subversive art is about overthrowing or undermining an issue in society.

2. Tracey Tawhiao Artwork: Quick thumbnail label everything- describe the artwork? 

Colour Palette & Shapes/Pattern: Overall, the repetition colours of gold, brown, blue, black, and white are used in both panels as well as the koru-like shapes, fish, and triangles.  

Texts: Each panel holds two written texts. The right-side panel has texts that say "All Share Space" and "Blessed with nine lives". There are also texts(little paragraphs) on the left-hand-side panel but they are both unreadable.

*Based on the text, "All Share Space", I think it referees to what happened in terms of the land lost from Maori people after the signing of the Treaty of the Waitangi. Their land was strayed as a result of a mix of private government purchases and direct confiscation. Instead of the space being shared equally between both parties for the agreement, one took advantage of it - the Crown.

                        Thumbnail Sketch       

In my perspective, the focal point in the left-hand-side panel is the koru-like arrow. The focal point is created through the contrast of the thicker line of gold in comparison to all the golden lines used in the panel.  

The focal point might be also the artwork in the middle with the dark blue and gold triangles on each side. Although in this case through leading lines. Altogether, the triangles created on the sides make a connected diamond. The connected lines of the diamonds then lead to the unreadable text which hooks the viewer's eyes to look at it closely - why it's a focal point.

  

The focal point on the right-side panel is the artwork located in the bottom middle of it. This artwork has unusual shapes formed together unlike the other simple shapes used. 

 

3. Choose one artwork- explain how subversion is demonstrated. 

In this artwork, subversion is demonstrated by the  text that says "We don't profit." From my perspective, I think this connects to the Treaty of Waitangi. 

The Treaty was supposed to benefit each party. However, after the treaty was signed, most lands were no longer held by the Maori. As a result of this, they lost access to culturally important places such as burial grounds and pa. Their access to forests, rivers, food supplies and other taonga was also inferred.