The Power of Muka

22 March, 2022
The Power of Muka

While living in the awe inspiring presence of Taranaki Maunga - Muka (the fibre of harakeke / New Zealand Flax) - became my main inspiration, spiritual guidance and beloved teacher.

Almost every piece in my current solo exhibition "Beauty and the Beast" is a co-creation with muka from this land. These magnificent fibres are the star of the show and the Beauty of my version of "Beauty and the Beast". By creating with her I embodied - piece by piece - how to embrace every imaginable beast and how to reveal their inherent beauty by doing so.


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The magic of this transformation lies in extensive, time-receiving processes where I can be fully present for what is unfolding. Every step of the journey is a gift - deeply listening to harakeke, respectfully harvesting and preparing the leaves, lovingly revealing muka, carefully preparing and dyeing the fibres with colours from the land, mindfully spinning the threads while feeling connected to something bigger than me.

It’s a homecoming to the world via my senses, a moment-by-moment-awakening from the dream of separation.

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This exhibition wouldn't be possible without Sally Hikaka who introduced me to the art of making muka and generously shared her knowledge and wisdom with me. Every time I work with muka I'm gratefully aware of all the tangata whenua /people of the land who have passed this treasure on, so its uniting power continues to ripple into the world.


...

Te Harakeke, Te Korari
Ngā taonga whakarere iho
O te rangi. O te whenua. O ngā Tupuna
Homai he oranga mō mātou
Tihei mauri ora
...

Harakeke
the treasure passed down to us
by the sky, the land, the ancestors
gives us health
for our life force
...

(traditional Māori karakia / prayer)


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Beauty and the Beast. A selection of works exploring the space beyond dualistic perceptions.

Open until April 11th 2022, from out of the blue studio gallery, 18 Halse Place, Opunake 4616, Aotearoa New Zealand, Thursday to Monday 1 - 5pm

Tags: muka, harakeke, fibre art, yarn art, spin art, art exhibition, mindful creating, interbeing

For more of my recent work find me on Facebook and Instagram.