Comparing indigenous cultures

For the current show on Oklahoma Indian Art, the Taipei museum borrowed 85 pieces of American Indian artwork, mainly paintings and photographs, but also some sculpture and beaded ornaments, from an American museum with a strong collection of traditional and contemporary Native American art.

The Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art, located at the University of Oklahoma, has a collection of 6,500 items, ranging from Native American art to international contemporary art. Last year Taiwan showcased its contemporary art in Oklahoma so this Taipei show serves as an exchange.

An aptly prominent feature of the exhibit is a tepee, an Indian tent made of buffalo hide, set up outside the museum in its courtyard. This and other exhibits reveal the relationship between Native Americans and the natural environment they live in and also their unique indigenous lifestyle, represented by 33 artists of 14 different Indian tribes.

The paintings, dating as far back as 1929, display a wide range of artistic styles, employing different techniques, media and color schemes. From watercolor and acrylic to tempera and casein, the paintings realistically portray the Native American lifestyle, full of mystery and tribal rituals. Simply from the titles, one begins to see the routines and rituals of the Native Americans, such as Turkey Hunt, Singing for Rain and Calling of Buffalo.

Huang Chun-hsiu (黃春秀), researcher at the Taipei museum, wants to draw viewers' attention to the Courtship piece to illustrate one aspect of the culture of Native Americans. The painting shows a man standing in front of a woman with a halberd -- a combination spear and battleaxe used in the 15th and 16th centuries. "The man would stand upright in a highly dignified manner before the woman, saluting the woman gallantly with halberd in hand," Huang says. This was considered a highly ritualized form of courting in the Kiowa culture.

There's an extravaganza of costumes in the paintings, too. Seminole Family, Florida shows a family's outfits in very bright colors, decorated with Seminole patchwork. Love Call depicts a couple dressed in Kiowa costumes, which are simpler in coloration. In Deer Dancer Joins the Eagle, two dancers are dressed in very elaborately designed clothing and headsets.

Max Liu (劉其偉), an artist and specialist in primitive arts, says the paintings and sculpture of the Native Americans are more modern in orientation, and they exemplify the aesthetic value of primitive art. Liu also says the academic world started to notice the work of primitive artists in 1908 and discern the important differences, which paralleled the deep divide between the cultures. "The creative attitude of civilized tradition focuses on intellectual introspection and embellishment, whereas primitive thinking is perceptual, emotional and sincere, exactly the opposite of the civilized approach," says Liu.Clothing display highlights the richness of Taiwan's Aboriginal tribes

A variety of institutions have teamed up with the National Museum of History to bring costumes of Taiwan's indigenous people to the eyes of city folks. About 265 pieces were collected from 11 aboriginal tribes to showcase the variety and richness of their costumes.

Compared to the Native American show, this exhibition seems more alive, with mannequins and bamboo structures woven into the display. There's also a video playing on site, showing indigenous people dancing and chanting in elaborately adorned costumes.