BLOODLINE - A Kāi Tahu Creation Story
DUNEDIN PUBLIC ART GALLER - Ōtepoti 2022
My contribution to Paemanu: Tauraka Toi – A landing place
Bloodline acknowledges Takaroa, Atua of the Sea, senior bloodline of Kāi tahu, as the first husband of Papatūānuku, Earth Mother. While Takaroa spent much of his time in the great expanse of the ocean, he would eventually return to find Papa intertwined with the Sky Father, Rakinui (Takaroas nephew). Despite his efforts, their love was untouchable, and Takaroa had no choice but to let it be and stepped aside for things to come.
Another immortal heart was broken in the coming together of Earth and Sky. Pokoharua-Te-Pō , mother of wind and storms, a maiden of the night and first wife to Rakinui. Their son Aoraki and his brothers sailed their waka beyond the realms to ask their father to come home. But seeing that they too could not break the bounds of love, recited a karakia for safe return to the heavens...but they made a mistake in their incantation which sealed their earthbound fate. Their waka crashed into Papa, where they eventually turned to stone. Standing tall amongst the clouds, Aoraki is the mighty mountain of Kāi Tahu.
The sons of Rakinui and Papa would eventually succeed in seperating their parents forever, a choice they had to make for light to shine and allow the world to grow. They erected poū to hold their parents apart, see Papa trying to remove one from her side.
Pounamu adorns the mural throughout. As a descendant of Takaroa, pounamu is of a higher bloodline than the uri of Rakinui and Papa, including people.
See nods to Mahuika, Hinenuitepō and Māui as you often do in my works. Hints of so many more stories of our tīpuna, lessons to learn, knowledge to take forward.
Mauri ora!