Design Research II

Time is only of the essence

I am inspired by these quotes 

The idea of confusion and the feeling of stuck living in between two worlds. 

Blessed - Heiressofthegame

Returning from the student capital of New Zealand, former scarfie-turned-yopro Heiressofthegame’s debut single “BLESSED” is what happens when South Auckland R&B meets Australian Hip Hop. 

 A unique, bold and dare-say revolutionary fusion of these two worlds –“BLESSED” reflects on the common struggle and grind of brown kids working in service of dreams of milk and honey. 

With a booming baseline, catchy hook and a fervent hunger to solidify her trajectory within the local and worldwide music scene, "BLESSED” pays homage to fellow Otago creation Six60’s “Don’t forget your Roots”–released almost 11 years ago this July–as the single’s theme “Never forget one's roots in the pursuit of new heights” intentionally pays ode to the band’s legendary smash hit. 

RNZ: https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/442632/identity-language-culture-flavour-of-the-month-and-then-what 

I am in a war.  A war with self identity.  A war with culture.  A war for survival. 

I am failing to maintain a part of culture that has been passed down for generation to generation - the language. 

In this day and age, the language of Vagahau Niue and Cook Island Maori is been seen at its most vulnerable. As someone who is of Niuean and Cook Island descent, it angers and deeply saddens me to think that some time in the near future both of my native languages will be extinct. 

Because of my lack of understanding within my own culture, I held a grudge and was angry at my migrant parents for not teaching me the mother tongue and I was angry at myself for not doing enough to learn - this is the barrier that I am faced with.

However, reading this article it makes me question myself - what I am doing to reclaim my cultural identity ? How can I shift my perspective to think about this in a positive light? Am I myself, putting in the hard yards to learn both my languages?

At the end of the article, Leki Bourke, ends off on a good note and instills hope and positivity within me. As someone who has been battling many barriers in anger and sadness - his words are spark inspiration and comfort to know that through my design practice I can make a difference with the revitalisation, maintenance, and preservation of my native languages. 

This article has made me re-think my direction of my design research concept as I am now interested in shedding a positive light upon the issue of vulnerable languages, culture and self identity - I need to focus on the opportunities and not on the fear of failure. 

“Our creative sector serves in the revitalisation, maintenance, and preservation of indigenous languages.”

Battling Barriers 

I have chosen to focus my research on my personal experiences of battling cultural barriers. I want to explore what it means to battle cultural barriers, as a NZ born Polynesian girl, through the semiotics/storytelling of photography. 

Research Question: How might the use of positive & negative space within photography convey the struggle, New Zealand-born Polynesians experience, living in between two cultures? 

Saint Andrew Matautia is Samoan artist, based in Wellington Aotearoa, who uses photography as a tool to capture stories and embrace culture. 

The photographic works he has produced has been exhibited in several exhibitions in Aotearoa, New Zealand -   Sauniga (2017) exhibited by Tautai in Auckland, Te Taiao, Nature, Curator’s Choice 21 and Faka-Tokelau.

I am deelply inspired by Matautia’s photographic work because of the way he explores his cultural background, issues and concepts and uses this as a form of self-expression. 

Links for more of Saint Andrew’s Matautia’s work:

https://www.thecoconet.tv/moana-arts/island-arts/sauniga-exhibition/

This short film documentary captures the essence of the 'Pacific Mamas' journey to keep the culture alive in Aotearoa NZ, through embracing community with cultural art & crafts practices/workshops -including tivaevae. 

One key aspect that I took away from this short film is ‘making the connection’ with culture. I was in awe to see how this group of pacific mamas share and make the connection to culture and their identity within NZ through the pacific community, church, hymns, dance, art and crafts. 

Looking more into Niue art, I fell upon this interview of artist Cora-Allan Wickliffe. This interview explored Wickliffe’s work in reviving the dead art form of Hiapo. Hiapo is tapa cloth that was used to adorn the body in traditional ceremonies and wrap the bodies of deceased kings. 

This interview focuses on Gisborne-based artist Lina Marsh, who is of Niue and Maori descent, using a combination of traditional and modern art and craft to explore contemporary Pacific culture. 

I find this interview inspiring and comforting because of how Lina Marsh pushes the boundary of pacific art. She is not afraid to ‘colour outside of the lines’ and fusing traditional and modern crafts/concepts she is able to create her own style that is new and different. 

As a designer, I am afraid to go above and beyond when it comes to mixing traditional and modern art and crafts, due to cultural appropriation and the gate keeping of my own people. In a way, my fear of trying to bring something new to the table within pacific art, limits my ideas to go further. 

Now after watching this interview I have come to realisation that it is how you position yourself as an artist. This is something that I need to work on within my own research as young New Zealand born Niuean, Cook Island girl. 

Inspired by the overlapping taro leaves often seen growing in our family ma'umaga or plantations, the ancestor metaphors and self-portraits navigate the lived experiences of growing up as part of the diaspora in Aotearoa. Wrapped in the comforting black of relational space, my thoughts and emotions once again look to the past to find balance in the present. However. Each time I think I know what I'm doing the uncertainty of the future ankle taps me and throws my balance off. We are born artists, then life happens.