Te Whāriki Kiokio - Wellington LUX Festival 2017

Abstract or Summary

This interactive installation consists of 6 digital tukutuku panels. There are 3 panels on one side with 3 panels parallel, all facing each other in reference to the layout of a wharenui. There are 2 speakers and 2 projectors, one for each set of 3 panels. At first glance these will appear as if they are plain white panels with a metallic symbol on them. However, when you touch these metallic symbols it activates an animated digital tukutuku design. At the same time, it activates a sound associated with the specific panel designs. These sound are either recordings of Māori instruments (purerehua, kōauau, etc.), Māori speech (whaikōrero) or Māori chants (waiata). One can be activated at one time and as soon as another metallic symbol is pressed the current panel turns off and the new one is activated. Te Whāriki Kiokio came from a passion to see traditional Māori art fused with a modern art form. As I went on this journey I visited Pakowhai Marae and quickly became interested in the tukutuku panels. These panels quickly caught my attention as they have always been there but they are often ignored in the space. So much hard work and meaning has gone into every piece of flax yet to many they are almost viewed as wallpaper. Traditionally Māori learnt with their hands, through touching and feeling. The idea behind this interactive installation is that as you touch the panels you will not only feel moved by the experience but you will also leave educated. The audio is used to enhance the experience of Te Whāriki Kiokio with unique sounds developed to tautoko (support) the meaning of each tukutuku.