Jahreece Morrell
Ngāti Hauā and Ngāti Porou
Joined the exhibition in Whakatū Nelson in February 2020.
Along with motherhood, religion has played a pivotal role in helping Jahreece connect with her identity as a Māori woman.
Now on a journey to ignite understanding and unity between Māori and Pākehā, Jahreece explains how speaking Te Reo Māori, the Māori langage, and embracing her tikanga or practices, have allowed her to honor not just her own identity, but the identity of her people.
The sounds you hear in the background are real-life recordings captured by Jahreece herself. What a beautiful experience she is offering us…
Follow the exhibition’s journey here:
PHOTO PORTRAIT DESCRIPTION
Jahreece has her head tilted back so she seems to look down at us with narrowed eyes, lips pursed. Her straight black hair sweeps down over her left shoulder and is adorned with three feathers that point straight up from the back of her head: one white, one red and one black.
She wears a long straight pounamu around her neck and two similarly long pounamu or greenstone earrings. High around her shoulders is a korowai, the tāniko or woven panel at the top of the korowai has diamond and triangle patterns in red, black and white and a white cross on a black background on each shoulder. The feathers are similarly coloured, tones of red at the top leading down to black and then white feathers around the lower edge which reaches her elbows. Beneath her korowai is a bright red top.
In her hands she cradles three books, their titles visible along their spines: Huia Come Home, Bible and Treaty and Paipera Tapu. Her pointed fingernails are painted in shiny colours: gold, blue and silver.
Nelson Exhibition February 2020
Explore more…
-
Mairangi Reiher
Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama and Te Arawa
-
Janice Wharepapa
Te Atiawa, Waikato, Te Whanau-A-Apanui and Ngai Tuhoe