JOIN JANE CONTINUING TO MAKE SENSE OF ART
And this month Jane is sharing with you her experiences of Maori Art on her recent trip to New Zealand.
The Maori were the first known inhabitants of New Zealand, arriving by canoes between 1320 and 1350 from Polynesia, naming their new home ‘Aotearoa’. Currently they make up 17.4% of the population of New Zealand and since the New Zealand government’s re-commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi in the 20th Century the Maori have been gradually increasing their social standing and achieving some social justice. With these moves forward traditional Maori culture has enjoyed a significant revival.
Traditionally it was rare for Maori art to be purely decorative. As a mainly oral society it had to convey knowledge, mostly spiritual and very importantly, about ancestral history. Artistic skills were highly valued and the tribal leaders were expected to be accomplished artists.
There are 4 primary art forms in Maori art (Toi);
1. Whakairo (carving) – they used 3 main media – wood, bone and stone. Public buildings like the meeting house above were highly carved, both inside and out, as were their canoes, weapons and musical instruments.
2. Raranga (weaving) – this was primarily done by the Maori women and included wall panels for the meeting houses as well as ceremonial cloaks.
3. Ta Moko (tattooing) – this highly skilled art was originally done with a chisel and was used to convey ancestry. Men would have whole face tattoos as well as symbols on their buttocks and thighs. Women just had their lips and chin done.
4. Peitatanga (Painting) – this was the least important art form, providing minor decoration for meeting houses and eventually giving us a record of tribal leaders, as in the portraits above. Today there are many fabulous Maori painters. Wellington Portrait Gallery had an exhibition of the work of Tame Iti – an activist, actor, author and artist! This is him below with the traditional tattooed face.
The Auckland City Art Gallery had an exhibition called ‘Te Whanaketanga’ – ‘Something is Happening Here’ with work by Robin White. In this exhibition she captures everyday life throughout Aotearoa – people and the places they inhabit.
One of my favourite art experiences in New Zealand was combined with another favourite activity – a boat trip! We were staying by Lake Taupo, a lake, the size of The Isle of Wight, in a crater of an active volcano – just those 2 facts blew my mind! And then to hear that there were some incredible rock carvings, only visible by boat!
The Ngatoroirangi Mine Bay Rock Carvings tower 14m above Lake Taupo. They were hand carved between 1976 and 1980 by 4 carvers, led by the artist Matahi Brightwell, wearing only speedos and safety goggles! The carvings are an amazing sight and it was a surprise that they were so relatively modern.
The main carving is of the tattooed face of Ngatoroirangi who was Brightwell’s ancestor from 800 years ago. The smaller sculptures depict tupuna (other ancestors) and Kaitiaki (guardians) – all pivotal to the history of the local Maori Tribe.
A rainy day in Auckland didn’t dull the effect of this carved Maori Arch in Aotea Square – a modern take on the connection between the natural world and the spiritual.
It was really wonderful to see an ancient culture thriving and developing across Aotearoa.
