HE HOKINGA MAHARA Remembering the Past produced by artist Tania Lewis Rickard 2013
‘He Hokinga Mahara - remembering the past’ is a performance video installation and a response to the oil spill and grounding of the cargo ship MV Rena on Otaiti – Astrolabe Reef, its effects on the whenua (land), the moana (sea) and tangata whenua, the people of Tauranga Moana.
I made this video last year for the ‘two years on’ exhibition, an exhibition of 13 Tauranga artists responses commemorating the environmental tragedy of the Rena Oil Spill. The exhibition opening was on the second anniversary of this event, 5th October 2013 at Zeus Gallery, Tauranga.
The music compilation throughout the video is original and by local composers.
The taiaha chant and haka is titled ‘Te Tau Otaiti’ composed by Maori leader Awanui Black. It is about the Otaiti (Astrolabe) Reef being desecrated by the oily substance of Rena which eventually came up onto our shores.
The instrumental soundtrack is composed by William Robinson who captured the vision I wanted to portray in the video which is to marry traditional Maori and contemporary instrumental music together. I wanted the sound to evoke emotion on to the hearts of people watching the video.
‘Te Waka a Maui’ carving featured in the video is carved by Pete Smith, local whakairo artist, teacher and surfer. The carving is representative of the harmful effects Rena has imposed on the people of Tauranga Moana, the matakupenga fish net design symbolising Otaiti and the dark stain smeared on the wood is the actual oil from Rena collected from the beach at Arataki. This represents the remembrance of the many tears that have been shed. Pete also performed the putara / pukaea trumpet sound you hear at the beginning of the film, which symbolises a welcome as well as a warning of danger and a signal to hapu or iwi that someone or something is coming.
The movement or twirling of the poi conveys the meaning of memories and the stirring of the emotions. As the poi twirls it brings forth the knowledge of this event. One of the actions performed is the purerehua where two poi are brought together in rhythmic motion representing the graceful butterfly, symbolising the unifying of a people and the grace and understanding that must be extended to one another as we come to terms with this historical event. Our daughter demonstrates the poi in the video.
The Sunrise at the beginning of the video represents the heavenly rays that touches all of God’s creation, making all things new, symbolising the promise of a new day (regardless of the events that may take place on that one particular day). In time the whenua and the moana will be made new and restored.
Thankyou:
A huge mihi nui atu and thank you to the wonderful people who contributed their talents, time, energy and aroha to this video project: Awanui Black, William Robinson, Pete Smith, staff of Aronui at Tauranga Boys College Aramahou Ririnui and Pete Smith, students Tawera Black, Hohua Ferris, Manaia Harawira, Darius Palmer, Madi Watson, Jessica Beattie, Ali Beattie, Shalom Rickard, my family and my darling husband Tawhai Rickard.
Claim the Remains by We Will Ride Fast, live @ Zeus Gallery
We Will Ride Fast Performing 'Claim the Remains', live at Zeus Gallery, 31.08.2018.
Copyright We Will Ride Fast/Kyle Sattler 2018 all rights reserved.