THERESA REIHANA
NEW ZEALAND, NGĀTI HINE
THE NEW GODS
2020
Acrylic on ply
Despite the current worldwide crisis causing the destruction of ecosystems, mass extinction, genocide and cultural decimation, humankind strives to attain a perfect life and a beautiful body.
We have lost our connection to the world. We think we are gods standing on a foundation of discarded plastic bottles. We focus on individual wealth and luxury. Marketing produces monsters that will never be fulfilled.
In the Māori world we are believed to be part human (physical) and part god (spiritual)—ecosystems within ecosystems. Our mauri (life force) connects us to all that is around us—we are part of the ocean, the climate and the land. This energy is invisible but our collective health can be measured by the vitality or diminished state of a forest, a river or habitat.
The physical and spiritual aspects, are also represented on the taurapa (stern post) of a waka; the taupara being the element that balances the waka. Manaia (spiritual beings) are depicted in the fine filagree carving of a taurapa and represent the connectnections between realms.
The manaia represented here are in a state of decay and symbolise the terrifying loss of balance in the world.
SILK CYANOTYPES
2020
Silk
The light banners represent the disintegration of mauri, the life force that connects all living beings.
The dark banners represent the voicelessness of indigenous cultures around the world.
The translucency of silk enables us to see the movement of air. The cyanotype photographic process captures the delicacy of water drops. These delicate phenomenon reflect the vulnerability of our voices, our cultures and environment.
PUMA
2020
Ply figure
I am angered and frustrated at the direction we are heading.
Balance is the key to our future.
Let’s return to traditional harvesting, food production and waste management practices.
Our land, water and air is not for sale.
WHO IS GOD?
2020
Ply figure
Who or what is God?
I do not believe god is he or a she.
God is life.
God is energy.
I believe that when we pray, we should ask not for what god can do for us but what we can do for god.
We are descended from gods, as all other life-forms on this planet but we are not gods. We do not sit like kings at the top of life’s pyramid. We are part of all that was created.
We are the guardians of our own destiny; we are the guardians of life on this planet and we are doing a rat shit job at it.
