Activity B: The wonder of harakeke
Connect with the spiritual and practical importance of one of Aotearoa’s most central fibres, harakeke.
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He pitopito kōrero Harakeke is both distinctive and widespread across Aotearoa. Being both common and extremely versatile, harakeke has been used extensively by hapū and iwi across many art traditions. [It's] used for raranga, such as in kete, kākahu, and whāriki, as well for things like cordage for poi, rain cloaks and rope. Today, harakeke is also used in many non-traditional ways to create original and exciting works of art. The whakapapa of harakeke has directly informed harvesting practices. In each fan of leaves, the outer leaves known as tīpuna are harvested. At the heart of the fan are the two mātua which protect the rito, the inner leaf which is the source of ongoing life. This whakapapa informs the practice of not harvesting the inside three leaves, as this protects the mauri and future generations. As noted by Tohunga Hohepa Kereopa of Matahi, Waimana, harakeke is our nearest elder brother. The harakeke plant provides not only an amazing resource but also a model for looking after tamariki inside the community. – Bradford Haami |
Te Papa cares for an extensive collection of taonga made from or with harakeke. Explore the slideshow below, or type in ‘harakeke’ directly into Collections Online to delve into the depths of taonga.
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Discuss:
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Installation artwork “Huna: Kaitiaki o te Harakeke”, 2012, by Maureen Lander. Te Papa (ME024116)
In Huna: Kaitiaki o te Harakeke, Maureen Lander (Ngapuhi, Pākehā), uses art and symbolism to pay homage to Huna, the guardian of harakeke. Huna is suggested by a maro that is suspended over a floor-work of radiating leaf strands. These strands encircle a nucleus of black flax seeds, symbolising birth and potential new life. The work is deeply respectful of all those that taught this artist, as well as of harakeke, the material through which she expresses herself.
Choose an element of te taiao that you are inspired by. It might be the snow, or the shape of the peninsula near where you live, or the kohekohe flowers that bloom near you. Whatever it is, consider the qualities of that part of te taiao. What are the features of it? What materials or symbols could be used to communicate an abstract idea of this part of te taiao?
Design an abstract art installation that draws on the materials and symbolism of what you have chosen. Consider ways you can express the meaning of what you love without trying to draw it figuratively. Share your plan with a friend and collaborate to develop your art installation further.
Use only elements from te taiao and return them when you are done. Take a series of pictures of your installation so that the photos can be displayed in an exhibition. Write descriptor statements that explain the relationship between your installation and the love that you have for this part of te taiao.
You may be inspired by the Mataaho Collective, a group of four New Zealand artists, Erena Baker, Sarah Hudson, Bridget Reweti, and Terri Te Tau. They are known for their large-scale fibre-based artwork inspired by and drawing on toi Māori and te taiao. In 2024 the Mataaho Collective received the Golden Lion award at the Venice Biennale, the most prestigious art prize in the world, for Takapau. Watch the video below, which documents the development of this work which was originally commissioned by Te Papa.
You may be inspired by Marcus Winter, The Sandman and his use of sand as a material to tell pūrākau.