Carrying the Legacy

The Festival of Photography joins with Matariki celebrations in ‘Matariki - He wa maumaharatanga, te iwi, te whenua, a time of remembrance; of people and of place’ an exhibition that echo’s one of the core themes of Matariki, that of remembrance.

 Alex Monteith and Natalie Robertson’s 2 part video and photographic work ‘A mohia Te Mauri- Carrying the Legacy’ focuses on a re-enactment of the return of the C Company Maori Battalion to Gisborne after World War Two. The parade was part of the celebrations surrounding the launch of the book ‘Nga Tama Toa’ by Dr Monty Souta. Approximately 2000 descendants and whanau retraced the steps of the returning party from Gisborne Train station to Te Poho-O- Rawere Marae.

Monteith filmed the entire parade with 2 HD cameras mounted on the back of a NZ Army unimog. One camera faced forwards at the remaining members of C Company as they rode in army vehicles at the head of the parade, and the other backwards at the following people.

 Robertson’s photographs taken on foot, show descendants carrying photographs of the members of the Maori Battalion “carrying a photograph of a loved one who has died is part of ceremonial activities called Kawe Mate, literally ‘carrying the dead’ This event then became in a sense, a kawe mate, not for one person but for more than 900 men” (Natalie Robinson).

Other artists in the exhibition have chosen different legacies; Qiane Corfield-Matata’s photographic series is about her koro Jones ‘Jumby’ Matata who died in February last year. “He was a builder, truck driver, gardener, husband, father, grandfather, kaumatua…” The series focuses on photographs of the small details of his life “Those things you cherish, you sit with and remember, you smell and touch and hold dear” (Qiane Corfield-Matata).

Jane Reilly photographed Dame Te Atairangikaahu in 2005 while working as official photographer for the Royal New Zealand Navy. Dame Te Atairangikaahu was visiting the frigate HMNZS Te Mana in her capacity as Ships Patron “We were all in awe of this remarkable woman… Dame Te Ata expressed a great love and felt great pride at the success and achievement of the young Maori Crew members particularly the women aboard. I was struck by her inner peace and hope I have captured this in her portrait” (Jane Reilly).

The exhibition shows at the Corban Estate Arts Centre Gallery until the 11th of July. Featuring work by Alex Monteith, Natalie Robertson, Vanessa Parker, Gabrielle McKone, Hali Phillips, Himiona Grace, Jane Reilly, Michelle-Rose Lee, Montess Hughes, Wiremu Te Kiri, Qiane Corfield-Matata, Robyn Hoonhout, Stephen Trinder and Toni Tanner.