Taoka 1-24 (2024)

These little works were made as part of the Paemanu Residency in 2023/2024. I got to travel around Te Waipounamu connecting with experts and objects and mauka and awa. My particular interest was in traditional practices of care for young children and babies. These works draw on Kelly Tikao’s work on traditional Kāi tahu birthing practices, the Okains bay Museum collection, the Canterbury museum collection (the pounamu kepu from around Kaiapoi) . The kaupapa about new born baby sleeping and nappies is drawn from Eruera Poko Cameron’s chats/letters with Herries Beattie. The ink used for the black is an interpretation of a rock art ink collected by Herries Beattie.