If you google Tribal, you’ll find first and foremost tattoos. This is upsetting. Actually, this noun in Art opens to a large portion of artifacts and rarities produced in any part of the globe as far as our historical sources arrive. As a matter of fact, Primitive art is usually a synonymous of Tribal Art. We do not enter in the discussion about which of the two is more appropriated but we want to focus on two characteristics: primitive and global.
Primitive. Tribal art is primitive because recalls to the cultural fundamentals of any population. It’s our history, it’s what unifies people and ethnics around the globe, at the same time what marks the differences. Masks, totem, idles, storyboards, etc. any of these may be found anywhere in the world, it is the primitive approach to the surrounding reality. Through images or materials you can understand the cultural anthropology of that area, village, society.
Global. Tribal art is probably what states once for all that racism is simple hypocrisy. Any first art approach drove to similar artifacts (see history or kids). Their representations or compositions were\are locally different, but due exclusively to different local experiences and resources. However, the first needs of expressions were the same everywhere. Probably the trendy word “glocal” suits perfectly to Tribal art.
Oceanic. We focus on South Pacific but there is something more in this characteristic. Melanesian and Polynesian artifacts are the last real and concrete expression of this Art (apart from their unique handmade preciousness). The other ones you may find in North Pacific: the Inuit (which hosted us in 2008). Oceanic Art is the last which still produced as cultural heritage and for tribal ceremonials. African one is more a marketplace now, Pre-colombian one is valued for its past.
How to value Tribal Art? We are among the ones who considers Art value not by the name or time but from what is worth for your emotions. For us is priceless, as I mentioned in the above paragraph. Anyway, about this topic we will write another time. As well as the fact that Tribal art has been influencing contemporary art since end of XIX century until nowadays (read our Biennale review:
http://www.finetribal.com/blog/2013/11/06/tribal-art-the-venice-biennale-2013)