Book Description

This work is an excellent introduction to the history of Maori and their myths and legends. It contains some of the best-drawn art inspired by Maori legend and tradition, and the illustrations are so impactful that they stay with you forever. Te Tohunga in Maori means a talented practitioner of any craft or art, religious or otherwise. Hamburg-born artist, Wilhelm Dittmer, has described the art with great detail and precision. The language remains easy to comprehend throughout the book. He includes descriptions of famous Maori art pieces titled: Tiki—the Ancestor of Mankind; The Creation of Hawaiki; The Battle of the Giants; The Death of Maui; The Fight of Night and Day, and many more. Maori Art is a traditional New Zealand art that consists of the art of the Maori people, who initially settled the island between 1250–1300 CE. Maori graphic art comprises mainly of four forms: carving, tattooing, weaving, and painting. Traditional Maori art was favorably spiritual and told details about their ancestry and other culturally essential topics. The dominant colors in the art were black, white, and red dominated.