NEO-POLYNESIAN TIKI ART

The mid-20th-century “Tiki” pop culture is being reclaimed by Polynesian artists who carve tiki figures with traditional respect but place them in novel contexts—like streetwear designs, barware, or as statements on colonization. Even in urban tiki bars, there’s a trend to source decor from actual Island artists rather than mass production. This neo-Polynesian tiki art, while controversial, can be inclusive and educational when guided by Pasifika voices, transforming kitsch appropriation into opportunities for authentic cultural expression and revival of the mana (spirit) in these evocative carvings.