Exhibition explores waiata in paint

VESSELS OF NOSTALGIA: “These remind me of events and people and when heard evoke feelings and memories of those times.” Picture by Liam Clayton

Have you seen an artwork that sings the brilliance of storytelling?

Local artist Erena Koopu’s exhibition Ka Waiata Au at Tairāwhiti Museum does just that.

The exhibition is an exploration of Koopu’s waiata in paint and is a translation of lyrical excellence, of iwi histories and whakapapa through a visual spectrum.

She says the exhibition is a continuum from her works displayed at the Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival last year.

“It’s a continuum of my kapa haka and performing arts background, my two passions, which I fused to create my earlier compositions.

“The difference with this show is that my current pieces sing about the different pockets or parts of my life,” she says.

Her artworks at the museum come in all shapes and sizes.

Starting from the box-sized framed canvas, Koopu said she used acrylic to paint seven different-coloured waiata, exploring her journey from 1988 to 1998.

“The body of artwork is inspired by some of the first songs taught to me at a young age.

“These compositions were all sung in kōhanga reo in the mid to late 80s. These were the songs that were pivotal within te ao Māori and have contributed to the revitalisation of the language.”

Koopu says her box-sized compositions are part of a movement.

“As a graduate of the kōhanga reo movement I pay homage to composers who created fun, simple, and catchy tunes that all live on and created a foundation for reo Māori speakers of my generation.”

Some of the waiata were composed by Hirini Melbourne, a master of traditional Māori instruments.

Her ceramics creations are about songs from her youth (1998-2018) that represent catharsis.

“These awaken the memories of the real fun and cool times, when we used to go to party in nightclubs with all the girls. They evoke the feelings and a whole lot of other memories of the fun times, sad times, good, stupid and bad times.”

The ceramic pots, she says, represent a time of moulding herself into a well-formed vessel that is and looks unique — each form resembling the different emotions and memories it holds within itself.

Her larger canvas artworks, which occupy a whole wall in the museum, are a celebration of 60 years of Poukai, an annual event that takes place at her marae Kokohinau in the small Bay of Plenty town of Te Teko.

Poukai is a tradition that dates back to the 19th century and represents a period when the marae and iwi had an audience with Kīngitanga, especially during times of hardship.

“The tradition was established to offer people solace, a time when they could come together to talk about issues and share kai.”

Each of her large artworks represents every 10 years of the Poukai, from 1963 to 2023.

Each is based on a song from Ngāti Awa that reflects the histories and stories of that particular decade.

Her final pieces of artwork literally offer rays of light in the corners of the room with a metaphorical hope to shine through the darkness — in an attempt to provide a pathway for seekers or those with a broken heart.

“(They are) a calling from the apex of our wharenui to return home, plant your feet, ground yourself, and become ‘tau’ (settled),” she said.

The exhibition didn’t have an opening due to Cyclone Gabrielle — causing the show to get delayed — so Koopu is inviting the public for a closing night event on Friday, April 14, at 6 pm at Tairāwhiti Museum.