Te Manu Ra’a o Ra’iātea
The Heavenly Bird of Rangiātea
An exhibition and book lunch of Te haerenga tapu hoki mai i Taputapuātea the sacred journey to Tapuatapuātea Marae returning with Te Manu Ra’a under the direction of Tohunga Tihoti. Exhibition and book launch at LAKA 169 Onehunga Mall, Tāmaki Mākaurau.
Exhibition by Dr Mahuto’a Pasha Clothier & Fanau. Studio open from 10am Saturday July 18, ceremony & book launch from 5.30pm. Viewing by appointment until August 1st ph Mahuto’a 0220105749 or mahu@mahutoa.org
Of note:
*Taputapuātea is regarded as the most sacred marae in Te Moana Nui/the Pacific Ocean. It was the site of kaiwhakatere/navigator annual meetings from approximately 800CE to 1500CE.
*Many current voyages on craft using traditional navigation, visit the marae as part of their voyaging. See Hokulea.com for more information.
*A tohunga is an expert and often a priest, who holds traditional knowledge. Tihoti is a traditional knowledge holder, and conducts rituals.
*The book launch is of Ocean Diffraction: Indigenous Practices, Quantum Theory, Electronic Art and the Anthropocene – published by Cambridge Scholars.
*The book describes the process of preparation and journey to Taputapuātea on the island of Ra’iātea, near Tahiti. It also expands notions of knowledge to be inclusive of Indigenous knowledge.
*The journey by the artist-writer involved placing an etched kōhatu/river stone on Taputapuātea, and returning with Te Manu Ra’a o Ra’iātea, gathered from the Taputapuātea wider area. Very few people, living or passed have had this honour.
*LAKA is a Moana/Polynesian art studio in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, supporting diverse practices and organisations, and operating as a community hub.
Leave a Reply