Galleries of Maorilandintroduces us to the many ways in which European colonists to New Zealand discovered, created, propagated, and romanticized the Maori world summed up in a popular nickname describing New Zealand: Maoriland. But Blackley shows that Maori were not merely passive victims; they too had a stake in this process of romanticization. What, this book asks, were some of the Maori purposes that were served by curio displays, portrait collections, and the wider ethnological culture?
Galleries of Maorilandlooks at Maori prehistory in European art; the enthusiasm of settlers and Maori for portraiture and recreations of ancient life; the trade in Maori curios; and the international exhibition of this colonial culture. By illuminating New Zealand’s artistic and ethnographic economy, this book provides a new understanding of our art and our culture.
A former curator of New Zealand historical art, Roger Blackleyis an associate professor in art history.
New Zealand's story of colonisation in the 19th Century is so similar to the American experience it's uncanny.Perhaps that's why when The Maori Portraits: Lindauer's New Zealand exhibition traveled to the de Young Muesuem in San Francisco, we sold a lot of our accompanying Lindauer book there.Galleries of Maoriland, while not supported by an exhibit on it's own fills in the critical picture that was missing by only focussing on a single artist's vision. In short, 'Can we reconcile the popular and often racist imagery of the past with our modern view point and the tragic treatment of indigenous cultures?' Galleries of Maoriland is a global story, its lessons can be taught in every country that has felt the pressure of colonization.
![Galleries of Maoriland: Artists, Collectors and the Maori World, 18801910 [Hardcover]](/itemImage/2/8/3/5/2_6861436.jpg "Galleries of Maoriland: Artists, Collectors and the Maori World, 18801910 [Hardcover]")