"Ka Titiro ki muri, ka haere ki mua. We look back to enable us to move forward."
Artist Arohanoa Mathews has this written down on the first page of her gold glitter-covered notebook.
The whakatauki, taught to her by her father, perfectly encapsulates, she says, the inspiration for her collection of paintings, exhibited for the first time in Tauranga at the Art Lounge NZ.
"My paintings represent who I am, and you cannot know who you are without knowing where you come from."
Her creativity is strongly encouraged by her husband Jeremy and sons Rawiri, 14, and Kaearangi, 11, but it is also informed by her Maori heritage even though they live in Perth.
"My paintings are the expression of my feelings and thoughts, and how I visualise my identity. It is deeply rooted in my culture." She says she never pre-draws her paintings, as the images "come to her" as she paints, often in a rhythmic way.
Typically her paintings incorporate representations of Maori artefacts with the use of piupiu (flax skirts), taiaha (weaponry), poi (ball on string), whakairo (carvings) and ta moko (tribal tattoo patterns).
In her collection she is currently exhibiting - Wahine Korero Ake - Women Speak Out - many of the paintings use the moko kauae, or chin tattoo, which Arohanoa says for her is a symbol of female empowerment.
"Being married with children and working fulltime in leadership roles, I feel motivated to inspire women to empower themselves - both professionally and personally. The symbol of the kauae is a calling to women to use their voice, to speak up. Whether it is in the workplace, their home life, in their relationships, and in life in general. It could speak to women in difficult situations, such as domestic violence, or women who are being repressed or held back by someone or something, or it could simply be inspiring women to reach for their goals. Maori have a unique place in Aotearoa and in our world."
The moko kauae was the centre of controversy in the news recently when Millie Elder-Holmes shared a stunning photo of mum Hinemoa Elder's new moko on Instagram saying, "My mum has made her #Mokokauae (Moko Kauae - women's Maori face tattoo) something she has been talking about for years, it's a symbol of a deep connection with your culture and ancestors ... I'm blown away with the power and energy around these traditions ... it looks like it was meant to be there, it's so a part of you, you blow me away with you intuitiveness and strength I'm hoping to be even half the woman you are."
One of Arohanoa Mathews works. Photo/supplied.
While Hinemoa's mokokauae drew admiration, it also provoked debate over protocol of who and how should get one. According to tradition recorded by Te Ara (encyclopedia of New Zealand) women who acquired moko kauae (female chin tattoos) received them on the basis of their mana, established through their whakapapa.
But many argued that if a woman feels she wants to wear a moko kauae, then it shouldn't be discouraged. Arohanoa falls into this camp. "I believe all women have a voice. Women play an important role in their own right within their whanau, their communities, their places of employment."
Although Arohanoa has worn one herself with makeup, if considering a permanent one she says the correct thing to do would be to consult her mother.
"The kauae in my painting is a symbolic representation of a women's strength and mana in all aspects. Whether a person has a kauae or not, it's about the inner qualities of each woman and what they bring to their whanau and community."
In Arohanoa's paintings, the women with the moko kauae do not have their eyes featured, or the eyes are painted out, which she says makes them more universal, even though the images are often based on her own image.
I hope my paintings do speak to women to encourage them too to stand up for themselves, for their culture, to be proud of who they are, and to find their unique voice
Arohanoa Mathews. Photo/supplied
Artist hopes work speaks to women
"I paint what I know, and of course I know my own face so I tend to use that image, but these women could be any women - they are ageless and any woman could identify with them."
Exhibiting the paintings in Tauranga is significant for Arohanoa, as her family originate from here. Her parents David and Rebecca Chaplow live on the Matapihi peninsula.
Arohanoa was born in Whakatane and is a descendant from Ngaiterangi, Tuhoe and Te Arawa Iwi.
David is a top New Zealand forensic psychiatrist and has had leadership roles in the Ministry of Health including Director General of Mental Health. Of Pakeha descent, David was a GP in Whakatane when he met nurse Rebecca, who was a former Silver Fern.
Rebecca went on to senior roles in health, most recently for Maori Mental Health Services.
Arohanoa says regardless of being brought up in Brisbane, Australia, for 10 years, both her parents raised her and her siblings immersed in Maori culture (kapahaka, kaupapa maori).
"Dad is fluent in te reo, and always with mum gave me, my two brothers and my sister a great understanding of where we came from.
"My parents provided and encouraged an environment of cultural learning which encapsulated te reo, tikanga, and value of whanau and whanaunga ... This is represented in my art work."
"I want to move back to give back my knowledge and skills to my people. There is so much talent here, so many successful Maori people in the Bay and I am really feeling a strong urge to connect with them."
There is, Arohanoa recognises, a type of resurgence in Maori culture in the mainstream media - evidenced in the iwi protests at Port of Tauranga which attracted scores of supporters.
Bay singer and international star Stan Walker's latest song, New Takeover, was described by him as the "beginning of a new journey".
"The accompanying video featuring haka theatre company Hawaiki Tu drew inspiration from his cultural heritage with Walker riding a black horse across a beach carrying the Tino Rangatiratanga flag."
For Arohanoa, it is not a resurgence, as it has always been there. "Everything I do is linked to my culture, my parents. But I do recognise a growing understanding of the importance of knowing yourself, your culture and language in te reo. "I hope my paintings do speak to women to encourage them too to stand up for themselves, for their culture, to be proud of who they are, and to find their unique voice."
the details: What: Arohanoa Mathews, Wahine Korero Ake. Arohanoa is sharing the month's exhibition with sculptor Rory French who is showcasing Emergence: Ancient Swamp Kauri Sculpture. When: Until August 3 Where: The Art Lounge NZ, 32 Devonport Road, Tauranga. Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11am-5pm, and Saturday, 11am-4pm More info:theartloungenz.com or email theartloungenz@gmail.com
