My main method is to take aspects of traditional Maori art and combine them with non-traditional design and or application.
My work is exploring the evolution of Maori art, and taking it in a more contemporary direction, to appeal to a new generation, trying to avoid the loss of this precious Taonga that is Maori art. As people become more interested in contemporary Maori art and start their journey towards gaining more knowledge, they are directed into the path of tradition and learning more about traditional aspects with enjoyment, which is important. Taking Maori art into a contemporary direction creates a good tool for that initial inception. Traditional plays a huge factor in keeping our native culture alive for generations to come, contemporary Maori art is a positive way to point more people in that direction. Being a contemporary artist definitely makes you appreciate traditional Maori art a lot more, and have found myself becoming more passionate each day about wanting to learn more, and have the satisfaction to be able to share.
Rangi Kipa is an Artist whose sculpture, carvings and taa moko are at the forefront of contemporary Maori art that challenges boundaries, creates dialogue, traverses the art/object divide and confronts the modern world that we live in as Maori and non-Maori.
These tiki were the first that Kipa carved using the high density plastic product Corian(TM). He was specifically interested in creating new works that sought to develop design imagery and iconography that both Maori and Tauiwi (other cultures) could relate to as indicators of their connection to these lands. (RangiKipa,2009)
I find these Tiki created by Rangi Kipa to be very inspirational, and the concept of taking a traditional aspect and applying in a contemporary manner, especially using the bright nontraditional colours, which has had a big influence in my work. It not only appeals to a newer generation, it also appeals to a forge in audience which takes Maori culture world-wide.
Hastings photographer Allan Baldwin has spent his life creating precious taonga — over 1000 photographs of Maori kuia with moko.
(the new zealand herald, 2011)
Allan Baldwin played a big roll in preserving Maori culture, by using his skill and passion for photography, to capture these breath-taking photographic images, of Maori women and their Moko. The amount of emotion and detail he was able to capture with in his images is stunning, really capturing and engaging with the audience. Which has influence me as a Maori women and a Maori artist, My recent works are around Moko and what Moko represents, and using art as a tool to search and gain more knowledge.
This journey im on, learning more about Maori, Maori art and even just about being Maori in general, and what that means, and where that leaves Maori, has only just begun and is already a roller coaster of emotions, the good,the bad and the ugly. I’m sure with time and knowledge the roller coaster will only get faster, and having art as a tool to express myself in a certain way is a good thing to have.
Reference
rangikipa, (2009). Rangi Kipa. retrieved 29 November 2013. http://www.rangikipa.com/
thenzherald, (2013). The New Zealand Herald. retrieved 92 November 2013. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gallery_id=122311#8186663
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