This series is part of my exploration of sacred symbols that have commonalities across cultures and time, the matts have been cut to allow the feathers beneath to express their natural colour and depth delineated by the contour of the object profiled.
IPU
An “Ipu” translates as a container or vessel, however, not just a physical vessel also metaphysical, the section of moko reserved for chiefs was ipurangi- the container of (Skyfather) Rangi’s knowledge.
Māori traditionally bury the placenta of a newborn baby in a special place, returning the whenua to (Earthmother) Papatuanuku. This was often done in vessels called ipu whenua, which were originally made from gourds.
Ipu Taonga literally means “a container or vessel for a treasure or precious item". In recent times these refer to the harakeke (flax) containers used for parents to transport very early miscarried babies for burial at home.
In this series I have played with the black/white balance both being visible as the ipu. The koru shape in the ipu denotes the treasure contained within.
I have again framed these pieces in stark white box frames to allow the natural feather colours to shine.
TOKI
HEI MATOU
Toki pendants were worn by Maori
elders or chiefs (Rangatira) and other highly ranked individuals with mana.
The toki (adze, hand axe) symbolizes
power and triumph in times of misfortune. Ceremonial hei toki (hei – is to suspend or hang so this would be a toki
worn around the neck) were used by the Maori to guard themselves against
threats. Hei toki, worn by Maori chiefs
and warriors, were attributed huge amounts of power.
The toki was mainly was a woodworking
tool being used for building houses, fences or canoes. Although sometimes the
toki was also used as a weapon. The labor-intensive process of hand shaping the
toki from stone or pounamu consisted of adjusting and endless grinding with
water and sand until the right shape had been created.
HEI MATOU
This shape - “Hei Matau” is a stylised fish hook based on the jaw bone used by Maori demigod Maui to fish up the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Hei-Matau are symbols of power and authority, they represent prosperity, abundance, fertility and strength. They are also seen as good luck charms, particularly for those traveling over water.
I have tried to elicit the feeling of greenstone in my selection and arrangement of feathers in this series of artworks.
KAKA PORIA
This shape - “Kaka Poria” is a stylised bird tethering ring used by Maori in Aotearoa New Zealand to tether tame kaka (native parrots) to attract birds for eating.
Some kaka poria, especially those fashioned from ponamu (New Zealand greenstone), required sophisticated technical knowledge to make because of the hardness of the material and the finely carved details such as the holes on the outer edges that accommodate the cord.
Kaka poria often became valued family heirlooms and were passed down from generation to generation.
FOUR OF HEARTS
This shape - “Four of Hearts” is a response to a challenge posed at a collective exhibition held earlier this year. Each artist drew a playing card and was asked to make an art piece based on it. My card was the four of hearts.
I have deliniated the hearts using koru. The koru shape is a scroll based on the New Zealand fern.
The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new positive beginnings. It represents the unfolding of new life, that everything is reborn and continues. It represents renewal and hope for the future.
The koru swirls are also reminiscent of the Tomoe symbol in Japan and are found in Celtic and Arabic art work.
