Culture

Culture

Cultural matters have been of particular importance to me since 2002, when I did a lot of research into my cultural background. In some ways it goes along way back, as when I was Director at The Gallery Akaroa 1990-1993, I introduced a policy of twentyfive percent of the exhibition schedule being works by tangata whenua the people of the land.

One of my first international successes was exhibiting in Tallinn, Estonia in 2004. The project was to create the constitution of a hybrid cultural micronation called The District of Leistavia, in part based on the 1838 Laws of Pitcairn Island and the then new Estonian Constitution.

I’m collaborating with Susana Lei’ataua on her production Coming Through “a theatrical installation of sound and spatial intelligence: in person, in memory, in ceremony, in community” as she describes it. I created this imagery as part of the graphics.

This pou stands outside Te Niho o Te Atiawa, on of three Whare Nui Meeting Houses at Parihaka. Maata Wharehoka is Kaitiaki Guardian of the Whare Nui, and the project was a collaboration with Maata, B J Hetet, and John Christini with input from several others in the course of it’s making. It is solar powered, and when one of five buttons are pushed, you hear Maata speaking of the heritage of the Whare.

This is my Kōhatu Mauri found through a process of creative wayfinding, in 2022. Humpback whales calve near my motu tupuna, Hitiaurevareva (the traditional Tahitian name for Pitcairn). The kōhatu is part of the Susana Lei’ataua production Coming Through in 2023.

Dr Te Huirangi Eruera Waikerepuru leading the Tomo Whakari (Dawn Opening) for SCANZ2013: Third Nature. This was an Intercreate project, one of many that included themes of water under the guidance of Dr Waikerepuru of Te Matahiapo Indigenous Research Organisation. I curated the exhibition. Te Huirangi led Tomo Whakari at Te Kore Rongo Hungaora in Istanbul, 2011 and Wai in Albuquerque, 2012.

The current era of cultural engagement commenced with SCANZ, a residency founded by Trudy Lane, Nina Czegledy, Adam Hyde and myself in 2006. It was also our first introduction to Te Huirangi, who led the powhiri and visited the residency several times. The photo by Stella Brennan was taken at historic Owae Marae, where the powhiri was held.

The District of Leistavia was formed in 2004 at ISEA in Tallinn Estonia. A research period located Pitcairn Island, Norfolk Island and Estonian influences. These influences were formulated into an online survey form, and the results of voting determined the articles of the Consitution. 61% of voters selected ‘Ecologically sustainable values’ as economic system, with a political system of ‘Meritocracy’voted for by 59% of respondents (‘Democracy’ was selected by 9% of voters).