Producer of global arts collective, Shared Lines Collaborative, Wellington’s Ōtari Raranga Weavers and co-producer of Urban Dream Brokerage, artist, Linda Lee (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Huia, Ngāti Kuri,Te Aopōuri, Te Rarawa) has been granted the Te Whare Hēra Artist Residency from the 3rd -24th August 2023, for Te Karanga ki ngā Taniwha. The free to the public programme will be open between 12-22 August with a wide variety on offer, and suitable for all ages.
Linda discovered she was whāngai at age 19 and as a mixed race artist - Māori, Chinese, Pākehā, Dalmatian/Croatian, this led her to explore identity, researching and reinterpreting family, whakapapa and further indigenous histories through exhibition, installation, photography and book form. Continued study around mātauranga Māori, raranga, rongoā and te reo Māori, as well as disaster management, have been woven into her years of practice.
The kaupapa of Te Karanga ki ngā Taniwha, wrapped under the Shared Lines banner is focused on further researching pūrākau and the rich history of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, beginning with Māui and the giant fish, and story of Te Ūpoko o te Ika, tales of Ngake and Whātaitai, the history of Māori settlement and the impacts of colonisation on Māori. Te Karanga ki ngā Taniwha at Te Whare Hēra will introduce people to the ancestral taniwha of Pōneke, helping us to understand why our tupuna held them in such high esteem and how we can maintain relationships with them today.
She explains, “As our ancient guide to resource management, we will examine the role of taniwha and their many functions, and consider our disconnection with the natural world. This is increasingly relevant in the face of climate change and even the current pandemic.”
The public programme offers free to the public, hīkoi, artist talks, and will explore Linda’s work delving into pūrākau, with practitioners providing free to the public introductions to raranga, rongoā, whakairo, taonga puoro, titi tōrea through wānanga and more.
Te Karanga ki ngā Taniwha will also include Lee’s own photography, raranga, installation and sound artworks around communicating with our ancient kaitiaki taniwha and responding to the residency site. The audio includes a Whakaturamoe chant recording made in collaboration with Kaiwaiata and Kaiwhatu - Virginia (Kui) Topia (Ngā Puhi, Te Aupōuri). In addition, Linda will collaborate with toi Māori artists to diversify the audience experience.
Te Karanga ki ngā Taniwha runs at Te Whare Hēra 3-24 August and will open to the public from the 12th August 2023 with thanks to Willis Bond, Athfield Architects, Wellington City Council, Wellington Gardens Te Whare Hēra, Toi Rauwhārangi, College of Creative Arts, Massey University. Visit www.sharedlines.org.nz to see the full programme, register for wānanga and read about past events.
Linda would like to acknowledge and thank,
Taranaki Whānui, Te Āti Awa
Te Whare Hēra
Toi Rauwhārangi, College of Creative Arts, Massey University