"And His Love Of All Things Polynesian"
|
Interview by Mr. Mai Tai of the world-renown exotica
DJ outfit 'The Tiki Two'.
Where did you learn to carve tikis?
"I am self taught at carving. I have long admired the work
of Leroy Schmaltz and studied his pieces and tried
a number of different woods, chisels etc until
I have found my niche."
|
Detail from Maori Tiki carved
for Ocean and Earth Surf.
What sort of things inspire you to carve?
"Inspiration comes from my love of all things Polynesian, the music,
the art (black velvet paintings in particular), the culture and of course
the Tikis. I am particularly drawn to the 1940's and 1950s lifestyle
and the history of Polynesian influences on Australia. The South Sea
Islanders arrived in Australia back in the 1800's and worked in the
sugar cane fields all along the coast and brought with them their
pacific culture, particularly their music and wood working skills and
many of them stayed on in Queensland and Northern New South
Wales, where their descendents still live.
|
Marcus and Bongo.
When the Gold Coast Took off as a tourist destination after World War
II many of these islanders found work as entertainers and tiki carvers,
working in hotels, motels, bars and food shops that took inspiration
from similar "exotic" venues in Honolulu. If you drive around surfers
paradise today and look carefully you can still see the South Pacific
influences at such places as the Tiki International Hotel, The Islander
has a tiki overlooking its bar and pool entry and the newly named
Paradise Resort architecture has a very Hawaiian influence at the
front entry with the High Peaked Roof.
Growing up I can remember vividly the Hawaiian influenced Television
shows such as Hawaiian Eye, Gidget, Gilligans Island and even the
Brady Bunch went to Hawaii and felt the wrath of a tiki idol.
I am fascinated with the impact that tikis have on people. On my
recent trip to the States I was filled with pride when visiting such
famous places as Trader Vics in Beverley Hills and the Tonga Room
at the Stamford Hotel in San Francisco to see New Zealand Maori
tikis amongst the Hawaiian pieces.
|
The Flying eye Tiki, on set for
"Starter Wife" starring Debra
Messing. NBC studios.
There are so many books and magazines out there now which can
educate, entertain and stimulate ideas in people that didn't even
know they liked tikis until they saw one - and they must have one!
The attraction to tiki did die down a little but is now back in full
glory and is definitely influencing the lifestyles of Queenslanders
because of our tropical climate and pennant for outdoor living."
How long have you been carving tikis?
"I have been carving full time for 8 years. I started tinkering after
seeing an enormous larger than life tiki at 'Sugar Shack' at
Fingal Heads which was owned by my good friend Darryl Miller
(or more commonly known as Baron Von Weirdo). Darryl is a
Full time Black Velvet artist who paints beautiful Polynesian
velvets and is the son of the world famous Perc Miller, Black
Velvet Artist from the 1940s."
|
Maori Gear Shift Knob.
What have you been up to lately?
"Nowadays I have a customer waiting list for customised pieces. It
can take me weeks full-time to do a single large carving, and my
most recent piece, a Maori tiki with detailed carved tattoos, took
me three weeks non-stop."
Many in the tiki-carving world are talking about this particular tiki
Marcus has most recently finished for Ocean & Earth surf label.
Based on actual Maori tribal New Zealand tattoos, the facial
chisel-work is breath taking, and unique when it comes to newly
carved tikis. Since photos of this tiki surfaced on tiki central and
surf magazines in Australia, Marcus has been inundated with posts
of congratulations, email orders and gifts.
Despite the hype around the Maori tiki, I was happy enough with the
Hawaiian which Kaspia had asked Marcus to carve me as a gift. Big,
bold and more alive than I ever imagined, my new tiki weighed in at
80kgs, too heavy for the plane trip back - even in the hold. Marcus
would get it on the surf truck, a semi-trailer moving surfboards
between Brisbane and Sydney. My very own hardwood Hawaiian tiki
now rules the entrance to our Bronte Beach bungalow.
|
"The drummer"
So what is coming up for Tiki Beat in 2007?
"I was contacted by NBC Studios New York to feature my artwork
and carvings in the new series "Starter Wife" starring Debra
Messing (Will and Grace) which is being shot on the Gold Coast
at Surfers Paradise, this was a very interesting experience and
I visited the set after it had been decorated with all my tiki
paraphernalia, it certainly added a lot of life to a blank canvas".
"I have just started a customised gear shift knob for a hot rod
salt flats drag car, because my pieces are very diverse, there
is always somethingunique to carve and I look forward to
starting each piece".
"Ocean and Earth and Tiki Beat are looking at a combined
product this year - but this still on the drawing board and I
am very keen to have this happen before my trip overseas."
"Myself and Darryl are heading over to Hawaii and USA in
July this year to attend the surf auctions in Hawaii and hope
to catch up with friends new and old in the States".
Not only a creator of Polynesian art, but a wearer of it (he
has incredible tattoos complete with tikis, hula girls,
volcanoes, and palm trees up both arms), Marcus is an
idol himself, and makes a most suitable export from this
plentiful island down under.
|
Maori Tiki carved
for Ocean and Earth Surf.
|
|
|
|