THE CURATORIAL PROJECT TAHI

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TAHI is an online exhibition featuring two new projects by Tagata Moana artists: Rosanna Raymond and Jeremy Leatinu'u. Curated by Inês Valle and Sophie Mak-Schram, TAHI is presented on Artspace Aotearoa's Instagram between June 25 and July 9 2020.

TAHI explores rituals and the bodily, and reflects on their present in this current time, in which we are both more globally connected and more individually isolated than ever. This exhibition is part of the CERA PROJECT's longer-running programme about rituals.

A key element of TAHI is that Instagram is conceptualised as a public marae (meeting house) between the Tagata Moana artists and those engaging, via their screens, from afar. The projects presented will be contextualised or expanded on through a selection of invited voices, including tribal leaders, international representatives and arts professionals. Reflection and conversation from audiences, via comments and participation, is also an important part of TAHI.

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THE ART PROJECTS​

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^V^T^

By Rosanna Raymond + Salvador Brown + Katharine Losi

The ^V^T^ is a new project by Rosanna Raymond, in collaboration with Salvador Brown and Katherine Losi. The ^V^T^ will be live on Artspace Aotearoa's Instagram on July 3, 14:00 UTC+12, and subsequently shared via IGTV.

Rosanna Raymond defines the ^V^T^ as an Acti.VA..tion of ancestry via sound, spoken word and rituals. The concept of acti.VĀ.tion emphasises the Samoan term Vā, within 'activation'. Vā denotes space that is not linear or empty: the Vā is an active space, and is activated by people. It binds people and things together. It forms relationships and necessitates reciprocal obligations.

The ^V^T^ explores urban indigenous protocols for meeting and connecting with the past in the present, inviting  the audience to establish their position between the Earth Mother and the Sky Father.

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KAI TAHI

By Jeremy Leatinu'u

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Kai Tahi is a series of gatherings across time-zones and geographies, in which you are invited to be both guest and host and partake in sharing time with each other in the company of food and drink. Across 3 meal times, Jeremy Leatinu'u and those present will explore the role food plays in relation to ritual practice.

Kai (food) plays many important roles in faith, cultural practice and in meetings and gatherings with one another. Food has its own beginning and whakapapa that has aligned itself or us to it, and therefore is essential to our understanding of living. Its relationship extends to all things in our world from the stars, to the sky, the land and water. These things influence our growing understanding of how, where and when we source, plant, grow, harvest and store food. According to Māori kai is an essential component in transitioning people from tapu or sacred space into our everyday. The end of this transitioning is complimented with a sense of togetherness, sharing and celebration.

The series of virtual gatherings are dedicated to thinking about food, celebrating food, and enjoying food whilst doing so. On 6 July, the first gathering will focus on food grown from above, and its relation with lunar calendars, constellations and religious stories. On 7 July, the second gathering will consider food from below, and the changing relationship we have to food and its (global) production. On 8 July, the third and final gathering looks at food from the water, and the role of food and water as elements in cultural practices. All gatherings are free to attend but limited capacity - you can book here [link to Eventbrite].

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TAHI is part of a wider curatorial project about rituals.