The Great Plains Indians refer to the Indian tribes living in the Great Plains of the United States and southern Canada, also known as the Great Plains Indians or the Buffalo Indians. Before the arrival of European explorers, Indians lived on the American continent for generations. They were pioneers in the development of the North American continent and the founders of modern agriculture, as well as guides to early European explorers and settlers. In the long history, this brave and hospitable ancient nation has left behind precious ancient civilizations, such as tall totem poles, unique eagle feather crown costumes, mysterious patterns and characters, peculiar masks and exquisite beaded embroidery. And sculptures, etc., these are symbols of Indian culture and art, representing the unique aesthetics of the Indians, and also earning them the reputation of "artists of heaven and earth".
Gaylord Torrance, Emeritus Professor of Fine Arts at Drake University, USA The depiction shows the important position of the charm and spiritual resonance of Great Plains Indian art in European history and North American cultural heritage.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art once held a grand exhibition of Indian art works. 150 works of art from 81 institutional and individual collections in France, Germany, Canada, Austria and Sweden, among others, come together to make this exhibition a grand celebration of North American Indian culture. Many of these works have never been seen in North America. The exhibits not only span a wide range of ages but also have many categories, ranging from ancient stone carving pipes, painted robes, paintings, collages to photos, etc., proving to the world that the Great Plains Indian culture is a cultural heritage in North America and Europe important position in the. Stone carving, wood carving, antler carving, shell carving; porcupine thorn and glass bead embroidery; featherwork, ornate clothing; paintings and photographs in different art forms fully demonstrate the unique aesthetic and artistic heritage of the Great Plains Indians.
The exhibition is in chronological order, first showing the works before contact with foreign cultures, such as stone carvings and shell carvings. One of the most representative exhibits is a 2,000-year-old portrait of a piper carved from pipe stone, which may represent their ancestors or legendary heroes.
The 19th century exhibits are mainly from the period of expansion to the west. The representative work is an exquisite long pipe that symbolizes peace. Pipes were used by American Indians to seal oaths, declare war between tribes, and as a safe passage for messengers to travel to and from conflict zones. The "peace pipe" not only represented friendship, but became a symbol of goodwill throughout the American continent, a prelude to all interactions between the Indians and strangers, and the A gift that symbolizes the gift of friendship.
At the end of the 16th century, the Spanish introduced horses to North America, and since then the North American Indians have also become a veritable horseback nation. Horses not only became good helpers for the Indians to hunt bison, but they also revolutionized their culture. The 19th-century exhibits here are mainly harnesses, weapons, clothing, and shields, all of which indicate that the civilization of the region has entered its heyday. One of the most striking works is a portrait of a Lakota warhorse wounded and killed in battle.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the United States began to continuously expand westward, sparking conflicts between new immigrants and native Indians. In order to protect the new immigrants, the U.S. government at that time set up Indian "reservations", and a large number of Indians were driven to live in barren and barren reservations, which were like prison cells for Indians. Since then, the Indians have lived in hardship and struggle, and this change in life is also reflected in their works of art. The representative works exhibited at this stage include the luxurious dresses worn during religious ceremonies.
At the end of the 19th century, colonists and merchants brought notepads, paper, pens and inks into the lives of North American Indians. The most representative work of this period was the Maffei Notebook, a book written by more than 20 Cheyenne warriors from the north and south. A hand-painted picture book recording their exploits.
In the early 20th century, works of art with traditional Indian styles continued to emerge, including cowboy shows, agricultural fairs, wizards, tribal celebrations, dance and art.
The last part of the exhibition is the works of the 20th and 21st centuries, and the creators are not only descendants of the Great Plains Indians, but also native American artists who are deeply influenced by Indian culture and live in other regions. It can be seen that in the context of the huge social changes in human society and the gradual disappearance of many traditional historical cultures and civilizations, the Indians still hold a strong sense of protecting traditional culture. This also makes the heritage of Indian civilization a force that cannot be ignored, and plays an important role in the subsequent historical evolution; at the same time, it also shows the continuity of the inheritance of Indian culture in North America for hundreds of years; those recent and modern works are spreading to the world Silently narrates the eternal vitality of North American plains art.
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