Treasure Trove

Waka Huia 2009 Areta Wilkinson. Image: Studio La Gonda

Waka Huia is a treasure trove of precious jewellery, objects and stories created by leading New Zealand jeweller, Areta Wilkinson (Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe/Waitaha, Pakeha) – a beautiful, personal exhibition that opens tonight at Hawke’s Bay Museum & Art Gallery, in Napier. Traditionally, a waka huia was a treasure or feather box used by Maori to store personal and special objects associated with adornment and spirituality. This Waka Huia takes viewers on a journey through Wilkinson’s life history, connecting each object to korero (stories) that reflect her delight in the extraordinary nature of ordinary moments.

A Stolen Moment 2009 Areta Wilkinson. Image: Studio La Gonda

Each story is intensely personal, anchored to Wilkinson’s own whanau, iwi and community but, through the act of storytelling, she evokes a wider narrative that considers the role that everyday objects play in our collective cultural memory. Areta Wilkinson (b.1969) has been making jewellery since 1991. She has worked as a design lecturer at Unitec Auckland and has made brooches for Queen Elizabeth II, the late Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikahu and for Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu. She currently lives and works from her studio in Oxford, in North Canterbury; and in May this year she received one of New Zealand’s most prestigious awards for contemporary jewellery – TheNewDowse Gold Award.
Tawai 2009 Areta Wilkinson. Image: Studio La Gonda
Waka Huia is a touring exhibition and as it travels to different venues around New Zealand, it is gradually re-shaped by its journey. As a special addition to the Waka Huia project, Wilkinson visited the collection of Hawke’s Bay Cultural Trust/Ruawharo Ta-u-Rangi to research a new series of works. Among the collection was a small toggle made from albatross bone. Albatross bones were prized by Maori, used in instruments and adornments that utilised their strong, hollow form. This indigenous ‘finding’ (a jewellery component/clasp,hook,back) captured Wilksinon’s attention and she has translated the artefact into a series of sterling silver toggles, entitled ‘Memory Aid I, II and III. For Wilkinson, this series acts as a reference point to the local history of adornment. All images by Studio Gonda, courtesy of Areta Wilkinson 2009. Waka Huia is open to the public at Hawke's Bay Museum & Art Gallery from October 17 to March 14, 2010. www.hbmag.co.nz

Gallery Graphics

I like the street presentation of Maioha, a contemporary Maori art gallery that I came upon by chance in Napier's Ahuriri area. It was closed when I visited unfortunately, so I couldn't get inside to enjoy a proper viewing of the interesting works on display. I particularly like the unconventional use of lime green in these traditional patterns.

Art Deco ASB

This isn't the best shot I have of Napier's very beautiful ASB Bank but it's good enough to serve as a reminder, or a lead-in to an earlier posting I've made about the stunning Maori designs created on both the exterior and interior of this lovely Art Deco building. It's one of the most spectacular Art Deco interiors in the town and definitely quite unique in New Zealand. To see the original post click on Art Deco or Napier in the label line below.

Contemporary Sculpture

Napier. May 2009. Ajr
When I visited Napier in May, I was delighted to come upon this contemporary sculpture by Maori artist, Para Matchitt. Entitled 'Heritage Fountain - Nga Puna Wai Whakapapa', it stands outside Napier's i-SITE Visitor Information Centre. I had thought the information centre might carry some more information about the work, but no, as is so often the case in my experience of information centres, they know too little about the important, obvious things right under their noses. Beyond the date inscribed on the work (1996), I'm sorry to report I was unable to discover anything further. However, you can see other works by this well known contemporary Maori artist, by clicking on Para Matchitt in the label line below this post.

An Art Deco Triumph

Some months back, in a blog about Maori design in Art Deco architecture, I wrote about the extraordinary Maori design embellishments inside Napier’s ASB building. When I visited Napier a few weeks ago, I went in to see for myself and it’s true, they are extraordinary. Even more extraordinary is the fact that a bank allows people to take photographs inside. They didn’t even mind me lying down on their floor so I could get some detailed shots of the beautiful ceiling. (I had secretly thought that might be pushing the boundaries of their understanding, but no, no one even seemed to notice).

The ASB was built in the aftermath of the 1931 Napier earthquake in 1933-34. Designed by architect Vivien Haughton from the Wellington firm of Crichton McKay & Haughton, it caused quite a stir when it first opened because it was painted apple green. No less striking – then or today – is its lofty six metre high banking chamber and the elaborate plaster kowhaiwhai patterns that decorate both the ceiling and interior friezes. Painted in traditional colours of red, black and white, they are inspired by the traditional rafter patterns found inside the decorative whare whakairo (carved meeting house).

The building was completely restored in 1992 in a successful partnership between the building owner’s architects, The Natusch Partnership of Napier, the ASB architects, CPRW Fisher, interior designers, Martin Hughes Associates and Skews Hey Ussher with consultation with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and the Art Deco Trust.

The exterior of the building is also lovely in an understated kind of way. At first glance it seems stern – all that concrete and stone – but when you get closer to it, the Maori design influences become much clearer. Carving patterns on the outside symbolise waves in the form of zig-zags and represent Raumano (the whale); and bronze grilles over the entrance windows also incorporate the whale motif. To see other buildings that incorporate Maori designs click on Art Deco, architecture and/or Traditional Designs in the label line below this post.

Door Design

A Decorative Door

Back Alley, Napier

July 2008 Ajr

Art Deco Maori

New Zealanders have always had a habit of doing things their way, so it should be no surprise to anyone that when inner city Napier was rebuilt in 1932 after the 1931 earthquake that claimed 258 lives, designers of the day incorporated Maori designs into some of the Art Deco buildings. Today Napier is lauded as one of the finest examples of mass Art Deco building in the world – and the only one that includes Maori design motifs.

All Photos: Napier Antiques Centre, 2008. Ajr

There are four buildings in the city that include Maori design and by far the most impressive is the ASB Bank building which has a stunningly beautiful interior ceiling that features stylised red, black and white Maori designs in an amazing kowhaiwhai pattern. A matching frieze runs around the tops of the walls. I don’t have a photograph of that – yet – but I intend getting one on my trip to Napier next month. The outside of the building also features koru and zig-zag designs similar to those used in Maori weaving. They symbolise waves and represent Raumano (the whale). This combination of elements resembles the ancient aukati (barring the way) design but equally represents pure Art Deco design. The whale motif is continued in the bronze grille over the windows. In the meantime, I can show you these photos that I took on last year’s Napier visit. They’re from the exterior of the Napier Antiques Centre and, as unimpressive as they are as photographs, they do give you an idea of the combination of Art Deco and Maori design elements.