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Reva Mendes
The context of this brief is grounded in Matauranga Māori. The principles of Māori philosophy are guiding Mendes’s practice of Toi Māori as Kai Ringatoi. This work expresses connection to ancestral knowledge, practices of sacred ritual and Tohungatanga. Through Taonga Tuku iho, this work highlights the ability to heal ourselves in the understanding of Māori spirituality and wairuatanga.
Therefore, the Māori principles of Kaitiakitanga, Ahurutanga, Koha and Mauri ora are foundational to the creative process, not only within our mahi but also within ourselves.
The dissemination of Matauranga Maori, supports Mental, Physical, Spiritual and Whanau Wellbeing. Creative expression and connection is paramount.
All of these principles originate from Nga Kete e Toru and are represented by the installation of Mendes’s work.
Symbolic of the patterns, designs and colours, the shades of Ngahuru
transmute into the colours and textures of our natural fibres within our Tukutuku!
Kaitiakitanga
Relates to Manaakitanga, the caring of Whanau, Hapu, Iwi and our Hapori. Toi Tu te whenua, Tu Tu te tangata… the balance of our natural world within our everyday living. We are responsible for sustaining our natural resources in this manner, acknowledging Taonga tuku iho with the awareness of Te Maramataka and the seasonal practices being respectful to the kaupapa of the use and conservation practices of our natural resources, the cycles and te maramataka. These relationships protect, care and nurture an organic feel to the work, a description of our environment that we live, learn and grow within.
Ahurutanga
Relates to the respectful engagement in relationships.. Tuakana/Teina, Kaumatua/Kuia, nga Kai tohu, Kaiako, utalising practices such as Karakia, Waiata, Romiromi, mirimiri, rongoa nga pure, kaupare, breath work, mahi-tahi, aroha, whakaaro rangatira, korero awhi, our personal and shared work space and sacred rituals to invigorate and cleanse these spaces.
The mythology of inter generational oral history guides and directs our practice.
Koha
Describes the Reciprocity in which we operate. Tukuna atu, Tukua mai, is a common communication tool used in Tukutuku weaving. This practice demonstrates the co-operation and precision required in Tukutuku weaving, hence the guiding principles in which we practice ie:- communication, understanding, patience, positive intentions, technical precision and strategy and design.
Mauri ora
This principle through our rangahau reflects our spiritual practice contributing to the Mauri of our work. Our Mauri Ora is reflective in the sustainability of resources in our natural environment, liaising with our hapu, whanau, iwi, hapori and how we harvest. We utilise and share the knowledge of conservation through looking after our own wellness and nurturing.
This is a 3 panel triptic Tukutuku, illustrating Te Taiao during Ngahuru. This artwork is a Tukutuku installation depicting Nga Kete e Toru, o te wananga o Tane.
Reva Mendes is a contemporary mixed media Māori artist whose background is in traditional Māori weaving.
Mendes has a background as a Traditional Maori weaver in Harakeke/Korari and other natural fibre arts, indigenous to Aotearoa/NZ. Reva’s history goes back to the beginning, to 1999 as a young mother of two and learning the traditional techniques and natural resources within our environment. Mendes has been tutoring in raranga and weaving for over 20 years and continues to grow and develop within her mahi….
Mendes brings a lot of diverse strengths to her practice from life experience and interweaving multiple ideas into creations. Her work is a personal journey discovering limitless potential, healing and restoring. The reconnecting to the self by allowing and trusting the process of oranga/life/living.
Reflective and creative expression, through mātauranga Māori, pūrākau and kōrero tuku iho, as kaitiaki, the sustainability of resources in our natural world and its many uses within our Taiao is always observed and informed.
Mendes enjoys working collaboratively with her local community as a part of an intervention practice. Whānau Ora (family health), promoting Kaupapa Māori (Māori focus) and Tikanga Māori (Māori protocols) integrating initiatives conducive to Māori and non-Māori alike through our customs and traditions which support reconnection to the Whenua, Moana, Taiao… The complexities of a collaborative approach, naturally creates itself within Matauranga Maori. “Nou te rourou, Naku te rourou”...ka ora te iwi….
Hokianga nui o Kupe
Hokianga whakapau karakia
Hokianga te puna o te ao marama
Tihe wa mauri ora!
Tarakeha, Rakautapu, Te Ramaroa nga Maunga
Tumoana, NgaiTupoto, Te Hikutu nga Hapu
Moetangi, Tapuwae, Whirinaki nga Awa
E ai ki nga korero,
“ He aha te mea nui o te ao”?, He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata!
Ngahuru | Kahuru
Ko Ngāhuru ko Ngāhuru ko tēnei te wā kei te pupuhi te hau...
TITLE
MEDIUM
Nga Kete e Toru o Tane! (3xTriptic Tukutuku panels) Kete Tuauri, Kete Tuatea, Kete Aronui
Kakaho, Pine, Pingao, Kiekie, Korari, Acrylic
This is a 3 panel triptic Tukutuku, illustrating Te Taiao during Ngahuru. This artwork is a Tukutuku installation depicting Nga Kete e Toru, o te wananga o Tane.