Main body of work:

Postcards From My Memories

Craft is something usually done in a home which makes it a domesticated activity rather than something as serious as fine art. Being crafty or doing craft has connotations of femininity, or can be called handy work or busywork. Craft is a physical skill and expertise that came from the ancient world onward to perform particular tasks, the production of artworks was inseparable from the world of craft. Passed on through apprenticeships until the academics of art began to appear in the late 1700’s the apprenticeship system survived until modern times.

In Maori culture weaving is enriched with the essence of the spiritual values of Māori people. Weaving known as a female custom involving rigorous training, coming from generational female knowledge and rituals and preserve the wisdom of their foremothers. Just like my ancestors, crafting practises were passed on from grandmother, to mother, to me.

Craft is something I grew up with and feels so normal, it’s almost like it’s not really art to me. I was taught to think that work has value in itself, with or without an end product. My love of craft comes from childhood. We had one main road and no traffic lights and we made everything ourselves, even mending clothes and living off the land.

Postcards From My Memories - 19, Water colour, Embroidery thread, Handmade paper
Tuku tuku Panels - 2, Jute twine, Hardwood
Baskets - Flax, Shells
Mat - Flax
Drift wood
Walls stained with coffee

Drawing on memories from my childhood as a way of story telling and making visual decisions, intuitively, with materials whilst influenced by the spiritual connection to my kainga, help me to understand my grievances and issues with the place I call home.

Named Postcards From My Memories, this main body of the work uses hand-made paper and embroidery to create small scale images. The size invites intimacy, and expresses the delicacy and sensitivity of the subject matter for myself. They operate almost as if they are diary entry. The fragility of the paper relates to the subject, since paper can be torn, thread can be frayed, just like memories and feelings. The watercolour moves and stains the paper depicting the sensitivity and delicacy of this subject in the mind.

Come into my marae and try to move amongst the things I’ve lost connection to over time.

Statement