PRINCIPLES

As a Pākehā mother to Māori children, Gina finds herself comparing her own childhood to what she aspires to provide for her Tamariki. In doing so, she has to acknowledge the privileges that come with being Pākehā and the additional challenges that her tamariki face in reclaiming their reo, reclaiming their culture and the intergenerational whāwhai for mana motuhake promised under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This body of work is about these tensions: what are Gina's responsibilities under He Wakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi?

All of the works in this exhibition are embroidered on blankets with aho-muka, threads that she has made herself from cutting harakeke. She follows the tikanga of Te Whare Pora and the processes that tangata whenua have used for hundreds of years. This is slow art. The process of preparing resources to weave with requires a close affinity to the environment. Every thread used requires skill and patience to prepare and is a taonga in its own right. How often do we stop to consider a thread; the plant the fibre was extracted from and the processes involved in its creation? By using aho-muka Gina hopes, viewers will consider the impact of their own footsteps on the taiao.

Artist's Bio

Gina's artwork is inspired by the natural world. Sometimes this is expressed in words. Sometimes it is expressed in woven objects, made with resources collected from the natural world. Sometimes it is expressed through painted representations of the environment. Underlying everything is a desire to connect more deeply with Papatūānuku.
Her work moves between two worlds. As a Pākehā who lives and works within te ao Māori, her connection to Aotearoa has changed as a result of learning te reo Māori. Gina is eternally grateful to all of her Kaiako and mentors throughout the years and her affiliation with the following groups: Ngāti Rānana, Maramara Tōtara, Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Te Ahikaaroa, Te Pā o Rākaihautū, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi, Te Rōpū Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa and Ōtautahi Weavers. In particular, Paula Rigby has been a mentor and friend, and she has really appreciated their Ōtautahi Weavers wānanga over the years. It is important to Gina that she gives more than she takes, and that what has been shared with her does not get lost with her. She is also very mindful of cultural misappropriation and seeks advice to ensure that she is not using ngā taonga tuku iho in a way that causes offence or harm.

This exhibition is the final assignment for a Post Graduate Diploma in Māori Visual Art with Toioho ki Apiti, Massey University. The gallery will be closed to the public for half an hour (probably on Tuesday) when Gina's supervisors visit to assess the work.