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Moai  Ancestor Figures - before 15th century

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Moai  Ancestor Figures - before 15th century

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-These monolithic heads are located on Easter Island, off the coast of Chile. The artists are the Polynesians. Moai means "seamount", "image", "statue", or "bearers of the gift". They measure from 10ft to 60ft high and weight as much as 50 tons.
-The symbolism of these pieces are each unique but their abstracted and symmetrical features resemble the style of other faces made throughout Polynesia. They represent deified ancestors who were chiefs. The large quantities also suggest ritual, ceremonial, or cultural importance.
-These huge sculptures were made out of volcanic rock and scattered around the island, especially the coast.
-The design of these statues have deep sockets, angular noses, pointed chins, elongated earlobes, and in an upright posture. Many of them had hats of volcanic rock that are believed to represent crowns identifying them as ancestor chiefs which provides a connection between the present and the past, the natural and cosmic realms.
I chose these mechanisms because the statues of Easter island are somewhat of a mystery. I wanted to address the mechanisms to shine a light on art that is well known around the world, but still confuses the vast majority.

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-The artists of this piece are the Inca tribe. It was worn by the Inca ruler.
-One mechanism is the design on the tapestry. The square designs contain a number of patterns that together indicate high status and importance of the person who wore it.
-Another is the variety of designs. The little checkerboard design decorated tunics worn by warriors serving the ruler. The diagonal lines and dots represent clothing of administrators.
-The symbolic relationship of the tunics refer to an important Inca creation myth. When the great god Viracocha sent out all the different peoples with their ethnic patterns printed on their bodies.
I chose these mechanisms because it demonstrates the variety and complexity of the designs on the tunic, each of them having a different meaning. This helps to dig deeper into the culture of the Inca.

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The Great Wave off Shore at Kanagawa - 1826-33

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The Great Wave off Shore at Kanagawa - 1826-33

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-The artist of this is Katsushika Hokusai. The inspiration of this piece is Mount Fuji which is the largest mountain in Japan and a recognizable symbol of the country. The mountain is sacred to Buddhism and Shinto. It is a volcano and believed to hold a powerful spirit.
-One mechanism is the sensory meaning behind this art. The mountain is the only part of the scene that is not in motion. The mountain represents a powerful stabilizing force.
-There is an abstract of yin and yang in this piece as well. That is a symbol of Daoist belief that forces may seem opposed, but are dependent of each other.
-There is also a rhythmic composition of this art that highlights the balance and harmony between man and nature. This is through the hard lifestyle of a fishman in the era of Edo and their courage in the power of the sea.
I chose these mechanisms because it shares the history of the art and gives cultural meaning to it.

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-The artists of this piece are the artists of Sumer. They come from the Sumerian civilization which was the first great power is Mesopotamia. For this piece, it was made by inlaying ivory and shell in wood. This is found in the Royal Cemetery of Ur.
-One mechanism is that this piece is a 3D box of 8in tall. The box is decorated with inlaid pieces of shell, lazuli, and red limestone.
-Another mechanism is the graphics that are displayed. One side of the box shows war scenes while another side shows peace. Each side is divided into 3 sections called registers. The bottom register shows chariots running over the enemy, the middle is soldiers marching, the top register is the ruler.
-Lastly, the artists use hierarchical scale to show the most importance to the ruler. His status is reinforced by the fact that the surrounding people are facing him
I chose these mechanisms because I thought they gave deeper meaning to the art.