Kiwi Creativity

I am constantly struck by the beauty and imagination in visual art here, in forms varying from the formal to the spontaneous, bordering on graffiti. One of our most unexpectedly interesting excursions was to Pataka Museum of Arts and Cultures in Porirua, a suburb of Wellington which otherwise appears to be a never-ending shopping mall anchored by a gigantic K-Mart (I must add, however, that David got an excellent hair cut in the mall). The gallery, which is devoted to showcasing "Maori, Pacific Island, New Zealand and international art and culture", featured a number of artists whose style was clearly inspired by traditional Maori design and craftsmanship, what has been referred to as "antipodean modernism." Here are some examples of works that meld European practice and Maori art:

According to the museum's website, "The exhibition illuminates the strength of contemporary Māori art. The six artists are conscious of participating in – and contributing to - the continuum of Māori art. Central to Māori culture is the idea of lineage or whakapapa – the passing of knowledge, expertise and values from one generation to another. Mentorship and manakitanga is seen as a fundamental responsibility. Te Putahi-a-Toi, through these artists, has indigenised the practice of teaching contemporary art, imbuing it with a commitment to Māori culture and Te Reo - enabling a modern and evolving expression of indigenous concepts."

(Right: Shane Cotton, Eden to Ohaeawai, 2000)

There is, of course, more traditional commercial imagery produced in New Zealand, also featured in Pataka (along with a re-creation of a blacksmith shop and old-fashioned general store). This light-filled and well-designed gallery also has a Japanese garden, a coffee shop, and access to the public library.

Kiwi visual creativity even manifests itself in skateboard parks (see above). The origins of this style can be traced in the Te Papa Museum in Wellington (the national museum), which documents the heart and soul of New Zealand, known as Aotearoa in Maori (which remains a second official language here).

This is a canoe carving from Papua New Guinea.

Of course, Kiwi creativity is not confined to the static. Unbeknowst to most outside NZ, the secondary name of our city is "Wellywood", because of its incredible contribution to digital cinematography in such films as "Heavenly Creatures", "King Kong" and, of course, "Lord of the Rings", which has done more for the NZ tourist trade than bungy jumping.

Weta (pronounced "wet tah") Studios, which has enjoyed a long and productive partnership with Peter Jackson, is in a rather non-descript location in Miramar, a nearby suburb of Wellington, with little on the exterior to suggest the incredible creativity that takes place within. They are very protective of their intellectual property rights and, thus, the place is as secure as the CIA, but they do allow the public to visit the Weta Cave, which has a short documentary about their filming techniques (without giving away any trade secrets), and sells reproductions of the various creatures and characters that populate their films. The one of the left is from "District 9". (You, too, can own an authentic reproduction of Frodo's ring for a mere $NZ550, about $US400).

However, for the melding of the aesthetic and the practical, the public conveniences (subject of previous blogposts of admiration) remain unsurpassed. Here are several shots of one located right in the heart of Wellington's entertainment and nightlife area:

Art, however, must occasionally yield to commerce when the need dictates. Thus this rather striking combination of a Red Bull advertisement outside a dairy on an otherwise fancy facade of an apartment building:

(Bus stop en route to Pencarrow Head, Eastbourne).

(Posted by Joan on Jan. 4)