Surface value: Can surface ornamentation be meaningful and powerful or is it superficial?

Is ornament still looked down upon in architecture and design or can ornamentation of surfaces be valuable? Can surfaces teach us, inspire us or shift attitudes? Can it link us to the past, present and inspire the future? Can it tell us about our culture, the place and its people? By understanding the indigenous and non-indigenous feelings towards decoration, we can see that surface decoration can be superficial, but it can also be meaningful, powerful and connect community