Thecontemporary artwork is functional under circumstance in different countries,exerting influence on politics, society and culture. The artwork ofBattle of the Nobble Savageby GregSemu, as a New Zealand artist, is to explore the historicalbackground, history reality, worldview of the artist, social and culturalbackground with the theme based on colonizing. The exposition on contemporarywork is contributed to understand the artwork in New Zealand.

by Greg Semu

In the photography,there are two groups of people with pigment print on their face and body. One group of people is apparently in terms of local Maori on the left, the other group of people on the right costumed in official military clothes who are colonist. As a matter of fact, the identity is also Maori in costume. The artwork in photography is presented to explore the social role in the form of art, to figure out the social identity of local people and colonist.

The historical concern is always the focus for motive ofartist in the process of art creation. The artwork ofBattle of the Nobble Savage(2007),by Greg Semu, has figured out the battle between local Maoris andcolonist in a specific art form. In the photo, the Maoris in costume ofEuropean colonist, playing the role of invader, to fight for the colonist, toprotect their homeland. In the historical perspective, the Maoris tribe isalways regarded as the uncivilized tribe and their culture is under-developed.As per the opinion of modern world, the colonist has brought about thecivilization in New Zealand, to stimulate the economic development. However,there are some standpoint should be clarified. In the artwork, the artists tryhard to prove there is no such discrimination for so-called savage. It hasshowed the truth and essence of colonialism, accompanied by slaughter andfight.

Tosum up, e art work, has provided with point of view on the perspective ofhistory and culture from colonizing aspect. The artwork, to some extent, willarouse the attention for audiences to response to the historical background andliving condition of local residents in New Zealand.

大意：

通過藝術(shù)可以反觀歷史。這張館藏新西蘭博物館的油畫畫作，可以幫助人們更好的理解歷史。畫作上兩隊身著不同的人馬在戰(zhàn)斗，仔細觀察，會發(fā)現(xiàn)，穿著入侵者服裝的其實也是本地毛利人。毛利人被殖民者稱為野蠻人，然而，究竟誰是家門口的野蠻人，殖民者扮演的是什么角色，藝術(shù)家通過這樣的方式引發(fā)觀者思考，不失為一件頗有意義的創(chuàng)作。