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Kōkiri
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DescriptionBy Arpége Taratoa-Leaf (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Rarua, Ngāpuhi). Russ Flatt (Ngāti Kahungunu)
Photographed at the sacred Riuwaka river, Kōkiri depicts archetypal Māori ancestors from the 1800’s, pausing at a wairoa – a place of healing waters. Reminiscent of portraits of Māori by the nineteenth century artist Gottfried Lindauer, this work depicts Māori in a timeless and captivating manner. This staunch portrait pays homage to the strength and dignity of the Māori spirit, during a time of change between two different worlds. Though the early nineteenth century marked a great shift in the culture and society of Aotearoa, New Zealand, the tanagata whenua (people of the land) maintained their mana – an attribute that is palpable in Kōkiri.
The portrait holds layers of meaning for the families of Wakatū. Historically, they were travellers, and the placement of figures on the water is a reflection of this heritage as voyagers. At the heart of this story is movement – migration, exodus; symbolically communicated through the location of this portrait.
Adorned with iwi taonga (treasures) and weaponry, these people exude pride in their culture. This portrait, and the name Kōkiri, meaning both to thrust forward and to champion, pays tribute to the character of the people who were deeply imbued in the values and customs of Te Ao Māori (the Māori world), and acknowledges the nineteenth century as an era of great mana, strength and devotion to family.
The photo Kōkiri appeared as part of a wider photo exhibition called “He hono tangata e kore e motu” (the ties that bind us can never be broken). It was a multi-media exhibition that explored the importance of whakapapa (Māori ancestry) from a contemporary Māori perspective. The works offered alternative perspectives on the concepts of the self, family and collective within Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and explored the key concepts of whānaungatanga (family relationships), manaakitanga (care), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), rangatiratanga (leadership), hihiri (innovation) and pono (integrity). The powerful and dignified portraits of tūpuna (ancestors) Hūria Mātenga Ngarongoa (Julia Martin) and Tamati Pirimona Marino by the 19th century artist, Gottfried Lindauer also serve as inspiration for the exhibition. Reproductions of these works flanked the entrance to the exhibition.
The exhibition was a creative collaboration to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Wakatū Incorporation, a Te Tauihu-based whānau organisation. The exhibition featured three large-scale portraits that depict a range of characters, representing both ancestors and descendants. Each portrait depicts a significant period in the history of Aotearoa, New Zealand, and more specifically, influential times in the past, present, and future of the whānau of Wakatū Incorporation. Included in the exhibition were individual portraits embodying an archetype or trait connected with concepts explored in the larger works. Each image resembles a family portrait and invites viewers to connect to characters portrayed.
The people featured left to right are:
Nikau Stephens-Semmens (Ngāti Rārua)
Carlos Ulberg (Te Ātiawa)
Shushila Tākao (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama)
Grace Buchanan (Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa)
Mākoi Tākao (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama)
Nātana Stafford-Nelson (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama)
Frank Hippolite (Ngāti Koata)
Ngaire Kīngi (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama)
Manasseh Taratoa (Ngāti Rārua)
Zoey Wineera-Brown (Ngāti Koata)
Judea Arthur (Ngāti Rārua)
Dion Keogh (Ngāti Koata, Te Ātiawa)
Nadia Keogh (Ngāti Koata, Te Ātiawa)
CreatorArpége Taratoa-Leaf Russ FlattText by Ropata Taylor Date2022Subject/KeywordArts and craftsHunga mahi toiMahi toiMotueka Public Library NgāpuhiNgāti RāruaNgāti RaukawaNgāti PukengaNgāti RanginuiNgāi Te RangiNgāti KahungunuTe Noninga KumuWakatū IncorporationAcknowledgementsOn loan from Wakatū Incorporation.
Photographed at the sacred Riuwaka river, Kōkiri depicts archetypal Māori ancestors from the 1800’s, pausing at a wairoa – a place of healing waters. Reminiscent of portraits of Māori by the nineteenth century artist Gottfried Lindauer, this work depicts Māori in a timeless and captivating manner. This staunch portrait pays homage to the strength and dignity of the Māori spirit, during a time of change between two different worlds. Though the early nineteenth century marked a great shift in the culture and society of Aotearoa, New Zealand, the tanagata whenua (people of the land) maintained their mana – an attribute that is palpable in Kōkiri.
The portrait holds layers of meaning for the families of Wakatū. Historically, they were travellers, and the placement of figures on the water is a reflection of this heritage as voyagers. At the heart of this story is movement – migration, exodus; symbolically communicated through the location of this portrait.
Adorned with iwi taonga (treasures) and weaponry, these people exude pride in their culture. This portrait, and the name Kōkiri, meaning both to thrust forward and to champion, pays tribute to the character of the people who were deeply imbued in the values and customs of Te Ao Māori (the Māori world), and acknowledges the nineteenth century as an era of great mana, strength and devotion to family.
The photo Kōkiri appeared as part of a wider photo exhibition called “He hono tangata e kore e motu” (the ties that bind us can never be broken). It was a multi-media exhibition that explored the importance of whakapapa (Māori ancestry) from a contemporary Māori perspective. The works offered alternative perspectives on the concepts of the self, family and collective within Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and explored the key concepts of whānaungatanga (family relationships), manaakitanga (care), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), rangatiratanga (leadership), hihiri (innovation) and pono (integrity). The powerful and dignified portraits of tūpuna (ancestors) Hūria Mātenga Ngarongoa (Julia Martin) and Tamati Pirimona Marino by the 19th century artist, Gottfried Lindauer also serve as inspiration for the exhibition. Reproductions of these works flanked the entrance to the exhibition.
The exhibition was a creative collaboration to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Wakatū Incorporation, a Te Tauihu-based whānau organisation. The exhibition featured three large-scale portraits that depict a range of characters, representing both ancestors and descendants. Each portrait depicts a significant period in the history of Aotearoa, New Zealand, and more specifically, influential times in the past, present, and future of the whānau of Wakatū Incorporation. Included in the exhibition were individual portraits embodying an archetype or trait connected with concepts explored in the larger works. Each image resembles a family portrait and invites viewers to connect to characters portrayed.
The people featured left to right are:
Nikau Stephens-Semmens (Ngāti Rārua)
Carlos Ulberg (Te Ātiawa)
Shushila Tākao (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama)
Grace Buchanan (Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa)
Mākoi Tākao (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama)
Nātana Stafford-Nelson (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama)
Frank Hippolite (Ngāti Koata)
Ngaire Kīngi (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama)
Manasseh Taratoa (Ngāti Rārua)
Zoey Wineera-Brown (Ngāti Koata)
Judea Arthur (Ngāti Rārua)
Dion Keogh (Ngāti Koata, Te Ātiawa)
Nadia Keogh (Ngāti Koata, Te Ātiawa)
CreatorArpége Taratoa-Leaf Russ FlattText by Ropata Taylor Date2022Subject/KeywordArts and craftsHunga mahi toiMahi toiMotueka Public Library NgāpuhiNgāti RāruaNgāti RaukawaNgāti PukengaNgāti RanginuiNgāi Te RangiNgāti KahungunuTe Noninga KumuWakatū IncorporationAcknowledgementsOn loan from Wakatū Incorporation.
Image
Connections
Text by Ropata Taylor , Kōkiri (2022). Tasman Heritage, accessed 13/01/2025, https://heritage.tasmanlibraries.govt.nz/nodes/view/6184