Reweti Arapere: Rangimatua
Reweti Arapere, Rangimatua, 2015. Courtesy of the artist and The Dowse Art Museum. Photo by Mark Tantrum.
Blending customary whakairo (carving) and contemporary art, Reweti Arapere built a giant pou representing a tiki out of cardboard.
Inspired by Māoritanga (Māori culture) and street art, Rangimatua (Sky Father), was adorned with felt pens that depicted the creation myth of the sons of Ranginui and Papatuanuku.
Arapere’s kaupapa (philosophy) as an artist considers how to keep Māori language and culture relevant for future generations, connecting people to their heritage and to each other. This new installation will draw links between myth and the founding of the Kīngitanga (Māori king) movement in the nineteenth century, translating lessons about whanau and working together into a contemporary context. By adapting these stories for a younger generation, Arapere shows how myth and history continue to shape an evolving Māori cultural identity.
The Dowse Art Museum | 11 Apr – 09 Aug 2015