“Use your vision. Don’t let tradition hold you back. Go for it. Te Ao Hou. Nā Te Pō, titiro atu ki te Ao Mārama. Always see the light into the future.” Nā Henare Rakiihia Tau, 2013. This is the kōrero offered to inspire Paemanu artists.
On 27 – 30 November 2014, Paemanu – Ngāi Tahu Contemporary Visual Arts, gathered under the sacred mountain, Te Poho o Tamatea for the inaugural Paemanu – Wānaka Toi. He tino mihi manaaki ki te hau kāinga o Rāpaki. Thank you to the whānau of Rāpaki, who warmly welcomed our artists and supporters, who had travelled from around the motu to attend the Wānaka Toi.
Ko te kai a te rangatira he kōrero.
The food of a chief is discourse.
Highlights of the wānaka included listening to the rich kōrero, wisdom and knowledge, shared by Charisma Rangipunga and Tā Tipene O Regan, on our Ngāi Tahu creation and origin stories. During the wānanga there were many opportunities for ngā kōrerorero (discussions), guest speakers included Reihana (Aunty Doe) Parata, Aunty Morehu Flutey-Henare, Aunty Ranui Ngarimu, Moana Tipa and Ross Hemera. There was also time for artists to share kōrero around their mahi toi, through “Visual Pepeha” – (Pecha Kucha) style presentations, building whanaungatanga.
Ngā Toi a Tahu – Arts of Tahu
As part of the kaupapa of exploring Ngāi Tahutanga through contemporary visual art, the Paemanu whānau visited one of our Ngāi Tahu whānui rock art sites, at Weka Pass. This was a unique experience for some of the artists, who had never had the opportunity to see ‘kanohi ki te kanohi,’ (face-to-face) the marks left by our tīpuna on the cave dwellings. It was also a significant experience to be able to view these sites with fellow artists.
This haerenga to Weka Pass enabled some artists to generate new ideas, directions and explorations in the Mahi Toi workshops during the afternoon and evenings.
Mā whero, mā pango ka oti ai te mahi
By black and red together it is done
Thank you to the many people who helped the wānanga to run smoothly. From the warm manaakitanga of the haukāinga, our ringa wera, Trish Shaw and her team, our inspiring kai kōrero, to the slick organisation of Leisa Aumua and Kristy Bedi.
He tino mihi nui ki te Ngāi Tahu Fund. Thank you to the Ngāi Tahu Fund for enabling this Paemanu – Wānaka Toi to take flight. Nei rā te mihi ki a koutou katoa.
Paemanu wānaka toi participants.