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What do you get when you put contemporary Polynesian art into an urban British setting? Cross Poly-nation, and an exhibition called 'A Matau Pakiwaitara' (Our Stories).
'A Matau Pakiwaitara' was a unique art exhibition that was held at New Zealand House in Haymarket, London (Nov 30th -14th Dec 2001). The show featured 32 art works and 60 pieces of jewellery from seven emerging London-based Polynesian artists.
These included painter and weaver, Priscilla Cowie (Nga Puhi, Kai Tahu, Ngati Kahu), Mariao Hohaia (Nga Puhi - Ngati Hao, Ngati Rehia), sculptor and carver, George Nuku (Ngati Kahungunu), painter and weaver, Tony Pecotic (Te Arawa, Tainui), multimedia artist Mikaeri Raimona (Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa) and Rosanna Raymond (Samoan, Tuvaluan and European).
"Our objective was to promote Polynesian art to people outside the Pacific," says organiser Rosanna Raymond. "We also wanted to enlighten people here about the cultural heritage of the Pacific's indigenous people and challenge their views of what Polynesian art is/can be."
Pre-European Pacific cultural
artefacts
collected by early missionaries and housed in Britain's museums has
been a major influence on their post-colonial views of the Pacific. 'A
Matau Pakiwaitara' however presented a modern indigenous perspective by fusing traditional and contemporary arts - from body adornment, sculpture and moko art (tattoo) - to weaving and painting.
Each artist drew on their cultural heritage and experiences to express their aspirations and beliefs. While constantly evolving and re-visiting traditional beliefs and practices in a contemporary format, the exhibition focused on authenticity in the face of an ever changing and developing world.
"This is the constant challenge for indigenous peoples around the globe
to keep their cultural practices intact and alive," says Raymond, "and
also to keep them dynamic and relevant
for the future generations beyond the 21st Century."
The opening night for 'A Matau Pakiwaitara' began with a traditional Maori powhiri or welcoming ceremony, followed by a poetry-based performance artist (Sistar S'pacific) and special guest performances sprinkled throughout the night.
London is home to a surprisingly large number of Maori and Pacific Island ex-patriates and many of them belong to a London based Maori culture group called Ngati Ranana. The idea for an art exhibition initially came about during Ngati Ranana's weekly meetings at NZ House in Haymarket and soon gathered momentum.
Raymond says while the mainstream press didn't pay much attention to the resulting exhibition, there were an amazing variety of people who visited it including lawyers, scholars, druids and teachers from New Zealand, Australia, Tonga, Germany, Spain, Italy and other parts of Europe.
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"We have a lot of work to do to promote the Pacific over here in the northern hemisphere," says Raymond. "There is a lot of exposure for African and Asian cultural based things, but the Pacific is virtually unknown," says Raymond. "The press here has no understanding of Polynesians besides their stereotypical ideals of haka and hula but we had a great response from those who saw it. I think the base is very strong at home now and we can start to encourage a movement over here."
At the end of the exhibition, all of the artists sold work including a surprise piece called 'Poaka Power' (Pig Power) that was sold to an Irishman for his mother.
"I thought he may have wanted one of the smaller type pieces," recalls Raymond, "but he surprised me and asked for 'Poaka Power". It's made of pu'a seeds and sharks
vertebrae with pig tusk necklace, one of the strongest pieces of jewellery in the show! I received an e-mail later on from the mother, who was delighted and really appreciated it. She's currently wearing it in Ireland. A wonderful thought!"
For more information please phone Rosanna Raymond: 0207 7373516 or email her at:
sistar.spacific@virgin.net
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