Artist’s statement
Karl Rangikawhiti Leonard
Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Ngāraranui, Ngāti Pahipoto, Ngāti Huri, Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa
My art is an important segment of many components and operates in cohesion within the daily events of Māori life and Meaning Family
The Meaning Artmaking helps inform the Meaning Language the Meaning Language informs the Meaning Reason, meaning, right way of doing things, custom the tikanga informs the Meaning Main body of the cloak and the Meaning Main body of the cloak informs the Meaning Artmaking It is a symbiotic relationship where all play complementary roles contributing to the well-being of the whole.
He Whetū Maiangi, the rising star upon the horizon, is a work started in early 2010 but it was completed in 2023 after being asked by Kōhai Grace to exhibit with her and my Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira Meaning Family and colleagues. It is a piece deconstructed and put back together to fit the purpose of the exhibition.
I work with a limited range of natural colours. This limitation helps test my design creativity and co-ordination.
Essays
Explore in-depth writing about He Aa I Uta, He Aa I Tai: Weaving the Elements.
Whenu(a), Atua: Returning to Hine-te-iwaiwa through the maternal language of whatu
Dr Hinekura Smith (Te Rarawa, Nga Puhi)
1974 words
The language of weaving resonates deeply with the feminine and maternal body – as long as we use that language.
Ngaa ahuatanga marire mo te koiora - The Elementals essential for life
Ruth Port (Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri)
2950 words
A journey of re-connection and knowledge recovery as a group of weavers unravel long lost techniques used by Māori ancestral sail makers.
