ARTS REVIEW: Te Tīmatanga
16.02.2023 at Albert Park Caretakers' Cottage
This review is part of the Auckland Pride Review Project - a collaborative project between four local publications (Pantograph Punch, Theatrescenes, Bad Apple Gay and Rat World) to provide more discourse around queer theatre and performance work, while also uplifting new and emerging writers. We will be reviewing a range of shows throughout the month of Pride - so keep a look out and go support our local queer performers!
Te Tīmatanga is takatāpui excellence! Curated by Hāmiora Bailey, Te Tīmatanga is a public art exhibition located in Albert Park Caretaker’s Cottage and an online digital space which can be viewed on the Auckland Pride website. Te Tīmatanga encapsulates many art forms of self expression and shows how multifaceted we are as māori, simultaneously holding community as a takatāpui whānau while also highlighting each artist as beautiful individuals with their own pūrākau and artistry to share. I highly recommend going to the cottage and watching the videos online to get the full experience of the artists and their mahi.
“Te Tīmatanga encapsulates many art forms of self expression and shows how multifaceted we are as māori, simultaneously holding community as a takatāpui whānau while also highlighting each artist as beautiful individuals with their own pūrākau and artistry to share”
Above images: Te Mata Topaki, sourced from the Best Awards
The digital art space of Te Tīmatanga shows the whakapapa of where it all began, honoring artists who shared toi in 2022 to what is now offered in 2023. By allowing a one on one moment with the artists and facilitator Hāmiora Bailey, the kaupapa and abundance of Te Tīmatanga is shared with us. This year, artists have been placed at the viaduct of Graham Tipene’s Te Mata Topaki, a serene look out structure over the water.
Kahu Kutia offers a powerful poem entitled ‘Te Pō // When We Were Erased, We Came Back Here’. Her words leave you breathless within a takatāpui experience of te pō: “takatāpui, it bothers them that we took one bloody word to be our own''. A journey of simultaneous unapologetic mamae and liberation. Te Kahureremoa Taumata shares her multidisciplinary artistry, singing her waiata, ‘Hoki Mai’, and validating takatāpui within te ao Māori like a warm hug you can’t help but sway in. Te Kahureremoa also brings her Whānau Pūoro that navigates your taringa into various realms that feels oh so healing; a celebration of collective Māori sound. Leading to another video of hers, the theme of ‘Tangaroa Ā Kiokio’ seamlessly collaborates with pūoro and waiata, acknowledging the waters that connect us and its sustainability, allowing us to reflect on what our own responsibility and role is: do we uphold or enable our roles? Tangaroa Paul is presented in two videos; they truly are a poi master, each swing and flick of their wrists full of ease and grace. Tangaroa’s piece ‘Taku Mōwai Rokiroki’ gives insight into who they are through their warm beautiful smile, fully engaged in their craft with such humble confidence. In their second piece, Tangaroa performs to Te Kahureremoa’s waiata ‘Takurua’ sharing gratitude, a tautoko and awhi moment, for all the mahi she has done. Seeing them swiftly transition from one poi to two will entice you to watch the video multiple times. Providing a digital art space allows you to experience the talent of these artists to your heart's content.
Arriving at Albert Park’s Caretakers Cottage, I am warmly welcomed into the Whare Toi, taking off my shoes at the door as if I have just arrived at my parents’ whare or at a wharenui. I take a sharp turn to my left to see a room filled with texture and colour. It’s difficult not to be tempted to physically reach out and feel each piece. One side of the room is soft and wooly, the other side shows two canvases depicting a much different reality, one that is a hard edged, a multidimensional Tāmaki Makaurau. Leading me to a room that screams: "‘fuck the binary!” , there is a red creature that vaguely resembles a taniwha, their black piercing eyes filled with a multitude of emotions. Parts have been crushed, others in a fetal position of rebirth. I feel as though I shouldn’t step into the room to make sure I don’t take up their space. I wanted to just observe from the door frame as respect to this being, in all their unapologetic vulnerability.
“Arriving at Albert Park’s Caretakers Cottage, I am warmly welcomed into the Whare Toi, taking off my shoes at the door as if I have just arrived at my parents’ whare or at a wharenui”
I walk out towards another room with dimmed lighting, offering a digital circus experience of Kiriana Sheree moving to the beautiful voice of Te Kahureremoa Taumata. Kiriana is mesmerizing, swinging and lifting her body through silky fabric with such mana and strength, with moments of a wiri integrated seamlessly. After being captivated by Kiriana, I move across the corridor, bringing me to a world of projection. First thing I see is a window with sunlight piercing through a masculine image of a person with their hands behind their back and tā moko of pūhoro caressing each muscle. I can’t help but see rope suspended from the ceiling. The rope streamlines the image, making its own unique composition. I walk in with a desire to see every projection in the space. Different angles and corners of the room bring new dimensions and emotion to the person on the window, a sinking yet grounding experience. Veering to another side of the room I see soft and hard feminine movement. A video shows clay being moulded and spread on to the skin and hair, a papatūānuku mask holding nutrients that nourishes the body. Within this video, there are also still images reflecting earthy elements. Again, the rope creates dimension, cutting the images in half, creating moments of satisfying symmetry. Altogether I assumed such elements would only create a grounding presence, I found a combination of both grounding and uncertain fluidity. With the grounding of the solid earthy materials being pressed but then the fluidity of clay being moulded smoothly with an additional airy soundscape that keeps you captivated in the room.
In due time, I move across to the last room. There is a gentle breeze lightly swinging hanging feathered poi and a fixture of circles and lines. The room brings various soft delicate textures to the forefront, but I advise you to take your time with each piece. Let the intricacies sink in: The time, and the endurance they all hold. Especially the aute cloth in the middle of the floor, beautifully long and flat with the beater and wooden anvil holding one end of the aute. Look close enough you can see what seems to be an imprinted tiki emerging. This brings curiosity to how everything was made - the process of the artist’s imagination flowing to the tangible work for everyone to see. Every piece in Te Tīmatanga is undeniably unique taonga.
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Check out more about Te Tīmatanga here!