Mairangi Reiher
Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama and Te Arawa
Joined the exhibition in Tākaka in July 2020.
Speaking with the knowledge and wisdom of her ancestors, Mairangi shares with us the endless journey of discovering who we are.
Recalling the powerful feeling of learning, acknowledging and belonging, she offers us a sensitive reflection on being a Māori woman and embracing femininity.
Her powerful words are woven together with real-life recordings captured by Mairangi herself.
Follow the exhibition’s journey here:
PHOTO PORTRAIT DESCRIPTION
Mairangi is a kuia with sandy hair with a fringe that sweeps over her forehead, sides that hang over her ears and the back resting on the collar of her red scarf patterned with black leaves.
Around her neck hang two taonga: a pakohe toki with a flax coloured cord woven around the top in a triangle and diamond pattern. Carved into the face of the pounamu is a u-shaped design with a koru-like swirl inside which is the symbol for Te Papa Atawhai - the Department of Conservation. The bottom of the toki shows as a diamond-shaped shadow which makes it clear that the visible surface of the piece is not flat, but point upwards in the centre as if folded.
Hanging just above the toki is a circular bone taonga on a thin black cord. It has intricate carving, cut out elements and is set with tiny blue circles of paua shell.
Tākaka Exhibition July 2020
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