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How did Pacific Islanders adapt art production after contact with European collectors?
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Oceanic art and architecture
An Aboriginal Australian decorating a tightly woven dilly bag with white, yellow, and ochre (red) paints, Northern Territory, Australia, 1948.
Following contact with European collectors in the 18th century, Pacific Islanders began to adapt their art production to cater to foreign interests. This shift included the adaptation of traditional forms to suit European tastes and the manufacture of specific items for sale, such as stone adzes and weapons, which became popular collectibles. Additionally, some artists began producing outright fakes of antiquities to meet the demand of the collector market. This trend of adapting production for external audiences has continued and remains a practice in the region today.1