This work is my interpretation of Parawhenuamea, daughter of Tāne and Hine-tū-pari-maunga, the Atua wahine referred to as the water that springs forth from the land. Parawhenuamea’s flags small movements from any wind will almost perform karanga to the audience to come and be immersed within her waters.
Māori experience the world through whakapapa. Our intimate relationships with the environment, based upon the interconnectedness and reciprocity between us and our non-human ancestors, is why Māori must be at the forefront of environmental reinvigoration and repatriation. Our fight to unapologetically proclaim our Tino Rangatiratanga, is not to make tangata tīriti or tauiwi feel unwelcome or unwanted. We fly a flag of red, white and black, a flag which represents our whakapapa, so you know who we are,… and, so we know who we are. Once we remember, we acknowledge our place as kaitiaki of these lands. Understanding we have knowledge stored in our blood to share, because we cared for these waters, since we were the water.
Currently exhibiting at Te Manawa, Palmerston North until Jan 6th 2022
TOI BY TESSA 