"Me pā katoa" / All in this together "
Statement: Ngā Kaihanga Uku is a collective of Māori clayworkers established by five foundational members Baye Riddell, Wi Taepa, Paerau Corneal, Manos Nathan and Colleen Urlich thirty years ago. The underpinning kaupapa (shared purpose or philosophy) cultivated by each of those five artists include three pou (foundational posts) or guiding principles:
- To create work from a Māori perspective;
- Share knowledge & resources;
- To make connections with other indigenous clay artists.
This installation offers an opportunity for visitors to the exhibition to participate and activate an idea. The intention within the idea "Me pā katoa", is to encourage and cultivate appreciation through a process of application that gives value to collective attitudes, sharing a common purpose to complete work. In this case, applying waiuku (clayslip) by hand
to the surface of an unfired vessel, to support the completion of the work. Description: Three vessels, grouped together, one vessel (fired and glazed) containing waiuku (clay slip); a second vessel, unfired; and a third vessel, (fired and
glazed) water holder for washing hands.