Ross Hemara - Artist at MAORI MARKet
Ancient Maori rock drawings are the inspiration for artist Ross Hemara’s stunning contemporary art works – amalgams of the symbolism of the first people in this land, with the fluid forms of modern materials. Hemara’s creations, one entitled Tiki Manu, or ‘bird man’ will be exhibited at the MAORI MARKet, in Wellington this weekend...
MAORI MARKet Media Resource (April 2007)
Ross Hemara - Artist at MAORI MARKet
Ancient Maori rock drawings are the inspiration for artist Ross Hemara’s stunning contemporary art works – amalgams of the symbolism of the first people in this land, with the fluid forms of modern materials. Hemara’s creations, one entitled Tiki Manu, or ‘bird man’ will be exhibited at the MAORI MARKet, in Wellington this weekend. Other Hemara works have been eagerly snapped up by overseas collectors whenever they have appeared for sale in the Vancouver gallery, Spirit Wrestler. One of his pieces is displayed at Te Papa.
Ross Hemara is a senior lecturer at the College of Creative Arts at Massey University’s Wellington campus. His role is that of kaiwhakaahua (manager) in the school of visual and material culture.
Of Ngai Tahu descent, Hemara’s lineage links back to the early tribes of Ngati Mamoe and Wai Taha. Wai Taha people were responsible for the original rock drawings in the deep south of the South Island.
“I have learnt more about visual and material culture through these early rock drawings than anything I have from anything else in the world.”
“These are the first examples of creative practice in this country. The rock shelters were the original art gallery – dating from five hundred to a thousand years ago.”
The original art gallery then languished for many years. Hemara’s ‘discovery’ of these art forms became the inspiration for his strikingly unique creative style.
“When I look at a piece of carving, I think of its history, of how it came to be. “It was the same with these rock drawings. They are the highest examples of excellence that our culture has to offer. So I don’t think they need to languish any more as being not important to the whole context of Maori art. I see them as being a very significant component for two reasons. One, they are the earliest examples of visual art, and two, their stylistic and symbolic meaning is different to the other art forms.”
Tiki Manu – or ‘bird man’ is Hemara’s interpretation of an important subject matter of the rock drawings. The bird man cult is seen in ancient native art the world over. The bird man may be a symbol of ‘transcendence’ of the physical form.
“Maori were able to find ways of relating to the inanimate world or the spiritual world. It is a way to link with those who have gone before, the ancestors. If I am looking at their art, they are speaking to me, I am learning from them.”
As an artist, Hemara feels deeply, the responsibility of being a medium for people to connect with other ‘essences’, other dimensions; the spiritual world of the ancestors. His art, he says, is his interpretation of the symbolic language the early ones left behind, and of his own worldview. Tiki Manu is symbolic of moving beyond the physical limitations of our bodies through the power of thought and of spirituality. These were concepts the ancient people seemed to understand.
Art forms of this nature are taonga – very precious, very special. MAORI MARKet will be a unique opportunity for Maori artists of this calibre to show their work collectively – and for the public to view taonga.
“Maori art is one of the ways our culture can express its excellence. MAORI MARKet is providing a vehicle for taonga – and it is something that cannot be equated with monetary value. It is a market in its purest sense – that of an exhibition of the highest value.”
ENDS