During my time studying art and design, we learnt about
Maori traditions and the significance of kahu or kahu huruhuru which are
feathered cloaks. Korowai (cloaks) are
about bestowing of Mana (prestige) on the wearer and are made of woven fibres.
The wire mesh mimics the twisted thread of traditional cloaks, and symbolise
both the literal fibre and metaphorical nature of exploring the fibre, that is
DNA, and often the patterns on the Korowai depict the ancestral background.
The below colour depictions of Korowai are inspired by the
New Zealand artist John Bevan, and use the cross-hatching techique with
graphic pens. John Bevan’s art includes
the ship that Captain Cook used when travelling to New Zealand, and is symbolic
of Bevan’s joining of cultures as he is from
a Maori European background. Within the images I added a Koru which is
symbolic of new beginnings.
Wire mesh, grey cloak of protection and honour.
Pigmented inks in various colours, cross-hatching method, kahu cloaks.
Copyright, Nicola Tickner 2014
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