TEA TOWELTANGA

This piece is a collaboration by two artists living on opposite sides of Te Ika ā Māui. The inspiration for this work came from the wharekai that fed taiohī during this haerenga, while they strived to be He Kākāriki Pōwhaitere. The turuturu that bring this whole piece together were inspired by poutokomanawa Bethany Mātai Edmunds who is herself a pillar in the woven whare pora of Aotearoa. Unaunahi is used as a symbol of plentiful kai, and full bellies. The carved and uncarved pou are based on turuturu (weaving pegs), where weavers start their mahi on the blank rākau and work their way to the adorned rākau. The tea towel was traded for a porotiti and kōauau at Motutii marae, in acknowledgement of their generous manaakitanga. Each of the symbols trace our journey through Tai o Hī Tai o Hā. With this work, Richard and Hohaia are asking a question: What does leadership look like? Does it just look like leading from the front and breaking the winds, or is there no front?

RINGATOI/ARTIST: Richard Hāmiora Green rāua ko Hohaia Ogilvy
HAPŪ: Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou; Ngāti Hao, Ngāti Hau, Te Uri Taniwha, Te Māhurehure
SIZE: W: 840mm H: 1260mm D: 155mm
RAUEMI/MATERIALS: Rākau, muka, traded Tea Towel from Motutī Marae, upcycled tin cans and found taonga from the taiao.