I haere mai koe ki te aha? “What do you offer?” Already Ancient Aotearoa

This piece was made to remember the special gifts that people bring to eachother.

This tipuna (ancestor) is carrying something special that's not from here, it's not our knowledge, not our product. How does something new effect us? We walk a fine line between being ancestors and grandchildren. When in that space, it doesn't matter what "what you bring" looks like if it comes with love.

When we were younger, our elders challenged us. “I haere mai koe ki te aha"? “ What did you come here to do?" Being young, we would answer “Help?" We remember them correcting us “I haere mai koe ki te atua". “You came to God". What a funny thing for us of today to be told to say. The understanding is deep though. “Whatever we do, wherever we go, we go with the spirit before us". “Ko te amorangi ki mua". We reflect on Māui, Prometheus, Raven and Loki. Tricksters who were burned for their love of new knowledge but are remembered forever as heroes.Their in...