The Art of Tiki

by Sven Kirsten

The Art of Tiki is a passionate study of the Tiki idol as an art form. For the first time, contemporary Tiki art is united and presented equally with what inspired it, original mid-century Polynesian pop. Author Sven Kirsten combines his first-hand experiences in exploring the birth of Tiki style with his intimate knowledge of the Tiki Revival, painting a vivid, visually arresting portrait of a unique, always new art genre.
The Art of Tiki is published in conjunction with the 20th Anniversary Tiki Art Exhibition at La luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

200 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2017

Reviews

[Kevidently · Rating 4 out of 5]

My fascination with tiki culture this year has led to so many estuaries of interest. Mostly what I've focused on is the history of the Polynesian Pop movement - pre-tiki and tiki-era bars, restaurants, and architecture from the 1930s through the 1970s. This book, by tiki revivalist Sven Kirsten and tiki expert Otto Von Stroheim, brought me deeper into the world of art, primitive, fine, lowbrow, and everything in between.

The whole concept of tiki didn't become an American thing until the 1950s, when American versions of Polynesian carvings started making their way into beachcomber/trader bars and the concepts merged together. One element I always find funny is that "Tiki" is basically the embodiment of the "first man" - essentially the tiki version of the Biblical Adam. I wonder what it would be like to go to Tahiti or Bora Bora and see them drinking out of wacky versions of Adam and Eve. That's a tangent.

What I didn't know about this book before going in was how rigidly the authors would stick to the idea of "tiki" - meaning carved statuary, mugs, poles, and the like. The other ephemera I associate with the movement - lighted floats, bamboo, puffer fish, palm trees - only matter inasmuch as they support the literal art of tiki. I learned a lot more about the history of this specific art form than I had in any of the books about supper clubs and beachbum bars. I also learned about some of the subcategories of tiki/pre-tiki from mid-century, which ... I mean, we're already skating on the thin ice of cultural appropriation with tiki itself, but some of the more salacious stuff in the tiki subcultures are pretty horrific. Cannibals and "African savages" had to have been suspect even back in the day, right?

By the end of the book, Kirsten touches on the tiki revival, which started in the late 90s as a strange and fascinating outgrowth of punk purveyors shifting their sensibilities to "lounge" culture. Artists like Shag came up in this revival and are still active today. One thing I particularly found interesting is something that happens with a lot of "low" culture that sticks around long enough to become respectable: the lowbrow and tiki art movements tried so hard to be recognized as the fine art that it is, it could no longer be considered for the lowbrow art galleries in which it made its name.

I love all eras of the tiki movement: pre-tiki, tiki, and tiki revival. As I read this book, however, it became clearer and clearer to me that my love of tiki, somewhat ironically, is only secondarily related to the tiki itself. I'm so fond of the architecture of a-frames and wooden bridges over indoor rivers, the glowing floats and the bamboo. I love the tikis themselves, but they're not necessarily my primary focus. I will say, however, that I find them most pleasing in the revival movement, which probably says more about my love of lowbrow art than anything else.

All in all, I appreciate the culture and the history of tiki, more now than when I started. More and more, I'm growing to respect and stand in awe of this strange American underground movement and culture that I wasn't even aware of, really, until a few years ago. More tiki please!

[Andy Montero · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, but not on par with Sven Kirsten's Book of Tiki or Tiki Pop. There are lots of pretty pictures here but not much new ground covered. Otto Von Stroheim's commentary was the lone exception, as his insights as one of the leaders of the Tiki revival started in the 1990s are interesting and informative. I was also disappointed that one of the early Tiki artists, Dawn Frasier, was not included in this book. A gross oversight, I hope.

[Sunalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edité à l'occasion d'une exposition qui a eu lieu à Los Angeles, à la galerie La Luz de Jesus, ce catalogue est une introduction au mouvement tiki. De courts textes de Sven Kirsten accompagnent de nombreuses photos et reproductions d'oeuvres d'art. Une belle introduction au style.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attractive book with lots of photos & artwork. If you’re looking for more history on Tiki, you’d be better served by reading Kirsten’s Tiki Pop. The 2017 art exhibition that this book was published in concurrence would have been cool to see.