Manawa wera - Defiant Chants

Sing - recite - repeat - inform - reiterate - impart - provoke - react - respond. All of these kupu illuminate the concept of chants or waiata and express the ways in which oral traditions can communicate deeper insight and meaning to events, people and relationships.

Whether motivated by political struggle or individual desire and ambition the narrative message found within chants have the power to elevate and emancipate agendas and positions. This practice is applied here to describe the pairing of contemporary Maori weavers Ngahina Hohaia and Karl Rangikawhiti Leonard.

Their ‘chants’ reverberate to a different beat however, with a diction that is uniquely their own. Framed firmly by the place of weaving and the fibre arts in their upbringings, it is no surprise that Hohaia and Leonard were destined to take their love for the art form to new heights with purpose and conviction.

For Ngahina Hohaia, of Ngati Moeahu and Ngati Haupoto descent, Parihaka is the kainga from which her world view, heritage and rationale is intrinsically shaped. For Karl Rangikawhiti Leonard, of Te Arawa, Ngati Awa and Ngati Raukawa descent, the skill and knowledge of weaving was part of the relationship he shared with his grandmother and the kuia of his kainga in Rotorua.

With this exhibition, Manawa wera - Defiant Chants, two artists collaborate to present new and recent works that innovate and push new ideas and boundaries within the wider discipline of weaving or mahi raranga.

What: Manawa wera - Defiant Chants: weaving meaning within contemporary practice

Where: Objectspace, 8 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland

When: 7th August 2010 - 11th September 2010

Gallery hours: Mon – Sat, 10am – 5pm. Free admission