The Contemporary Art of Easter Island

Painting Desctiptions

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Ao	Ao 1.50 x 0.90 mt Textures, Acrylic Paint A symbol of power, wore by Ariki (king) and Mata To'a (warriors) only, as well as other people who shall prove its use. The oar shape clearly denotes the importance of navigation and the nomad spirit of us Rapa Nui people.
Aringa Matato'a	Aringa Matato'a 1.50 x 0.90 mt Acrylic paint and textures According to tradition, the Hanau Eepe hid at the Poike during the most critical moment of conflicts among two rival groups and they built a defensive ditch at the base of the peninsula from north to south. Finally, the Hanau Momoko, rivals to the Hanau Eepe, surprise them from behind the ditch pushing them into it and then burning it. Only one Hanau Eepe survived. One of the names of this ditch is Ko Te Umu O Te Hanau Eepe ("The Hanau Eepe Curanto"). This cruel battle took place around 1680. Archeological information contradicts the idea of a defensive ditch for being discontinuous. On the other hand the Hanau Eepe had been related with the Long Ears and the Hanau Momoko with the Short Ears but this has no relation with races or ear length. What happened is that the term eepe "strong" with epe "ear". Momoko means as a lizard or thin, both features can still be noticed within the natives of the island. This confusion among investigators originated a version in which there were two migrations: a Polynesian migration (momoko) and a subsequent migration from Peru (eepe) which has not real base.
Honu - Turtle	Honu - Turtle 1.50 x 0.90 mt Textures and Acrylic paint These petroglyphs exist in many places. Males and females, in different sizes which tells us of the abundance of the same. Mystic beings. Avareipua, Hotu Matua's sister, the first king to arrive in the island, had a dream in which she was transformed into a Honu who travelled to Rapa Nui and she told about Te Pito o te Henua, the button bell of the world. The turtles, honu use to appear sporadically, less frequently than long ago. According to the archeologists, the tupa would be the places from which they could be seen arriving.
Ka Tere Koe - Run	Ka Tere Koe - Run 1.50 x 0.90 mt Textures and acrylic paint This paint represents a rooster chasing a hen. These birds were introduced in the island. To possess them was considered of high social standard among people. Rooster’s feathers decorate the best Pukao (Crowns, head dresses).
Kahi Komari Make-Make	Kahi Komari Make - Make 1.30 x 0.50 mt Acrylic paint and textures Kahi: tuna fish Komari: Female sexual symbol Make-make: the only Rapa Nui god
Kahi - Tuna Fish	Kahi - Tuna Fish 1.50 x 0.90 mt Textures and Acrylic Paint Yellow fin and blue fin Kahi are abundant species in Rapa Nui. A culinary delicacy. In ancient times, capturing a big one was a reason to celebrate. Obviously the fisherman and his family were not able of eating so much so one part was donated to the Church and a curanto was organized for all the people to participate. I believe that this particular tradition reflects the Rapa Nui people in its roots.
Maito	Maito 1.50 x 0.90 mt Textures and Acrylic paint A rock fish. Its main characteristic is a very sharp dorsal spine. When threatened he gets rough (choppy) so if a largest fish wants to eat him, his spine would free him.
Manu Tara Vahine - Sea Bird	Manu Tara Vahine - Female Sea Bird 1.50 x 0.90 mt Textures and acrylic paints Manu Tara, a good luck sea bird is here depicted in its female gender. In Rapa Nui Culture the most fertile females are privileged with respect to the others.
Manutara	Manutara 1.50 x 0.90 mt Textures and Acrylic paint All social life of Easter Island people would adhere, long ago, to the worshiping of the Manutara bird (sterna fuscata). A good omen bird. Every year, the main ceremony would be held to appoint a chief that would receive the name of Tangata Manu (Bird Man). In order to receive this honor, it was necessary to get the first egg laid by the manutara bird. The ceremony was held in a place named Orongo where the participants needed to swim across the open sea, overcoming dangerous currents and waves to reach an islet where the bird nested. After the egg was collected, they needed to swim back to the shore as fast as they could, to show it to the people gathered in that place. The holder of the egg was from that moment protected by the gods and would become the "tangata-manu". He would shave his head and paint it in red; wore a crown-wig made of human hair, called "hau-oho"; painted his head in red and black and finally, he would change his name for the name of the upcoming year. After the ceremony, the tangata - manu would retire to a house build especially for him at the slope of Rano- Raraku, in a region called Orohié, for one year.