Kaitiakitanga informs art project

Year 10 art students at Gisborne Girls’ High School with their finished art project painted in small groups. The art panels are inspired by nature and the concept of kaitiakitanga. From left: Carly Bottrill, Taina Hogarth, Arianna Kupenga-Tamarama, Esther Forbes, Joshaun Scheepers, Rio Sasamoto, Grace Kelly, Breanna Osgood-Lloyd, Abigail Burn, Sascha Dobson, Ashmara Oakley, Rosanna Hepburn-Van Zyl, Justine Ward (kaiako), Clare Ruston, Xavier Penfold, Nikita Schwass, Stevie-June Knowles, Leighton-Shakarn Campbell, Koston Stevens, Felicia Situ, Jess McIntyre, Rebekah Newlands, Marley Martin, Maria-Nouvel Atkins. Other contributors: Lilly Allen, Anika Ashford, Chanelle Anderson, Chloe Moore, Pania Bennett, Lucie Carr, Paitin-Rose Dawson, Mele Tolu, Abby Twigley, Aisha Twigley, Jemima Whitley. Picture by Liam Clayton

Art panels inspired by the concept of kaitiakitanga  or guardianship and produced by a group of Year 10 art students will soon have pride of place in the school hall at Gisborne Girls’ High School.

The art project involved a lot of research and exploratory work including compositional sketches.Students were required to investigate the ideas, techniques and styles of local, national and international artists with which to inform their artworks.

They had to back up their project with a visual diary of ideas and concepts including research into the key conventions of their chosen artist’s work and the use of symbolism.

“We continually tested and used different paint techniques such as priming, fine-lining, outlining, blending, masking, dry brush, transparency and block colour,” said Abby Burn.

The result is a stunning line-up of distinctive art panels using a varied palette of colours and styles.

One panel features a portrait of Hinehakirirangi who brought the treasured kūmara tubers to Tūranganui-a-Kiwa on the Horouta waka in the early 1300s.

“We painted Hinehakirirangi as she is a symbol of life among people  — the kūmara she planted would help feed the population,” said one of the art students, Xavier Penfold.

The group, made up of Xavier, Nikita Schwass and Pania Bennett also included the now extinct huia bird in their art panel and used the huia feathers to symbolise peace and connection.

“Kaitiakitanga is a concept deeply rooted in Māori culture that revolves around the protection, guardianship and sustainability of our environment. I also included the ngutu-kākā from the art of kōwhaiwhai to signify the connection that people have to the land.” said Joshaun Scheepers.

A striking panel painted on a background of yellow features the pīwakawaka or fantail.

“The pīwakawaka is the guardian, representing a connection with the spiritual world,” said Ashmara Oakley.

Sasha Dobson picks up the description: “The patterns inside the birds indicate the journey of life and self-development.

“An artist we chose for inspiration is Xoë Hall. You can see a reflection of her work in ours by our use of unique and bright colours, especially where they don’t usually belong; for example, our blue sun.”

Another panel uses the image of the mighty mangōpare  or hammerhead shark, with Māori symbols which represent strength, determination and fighting spirit.

Other works feature the pūriri moth, “the ghost of an ancestor returning to visit his or her descendants”, says Koston Stevens. The whai, or stingrays, signify protection and the celebration of Matariki.

“These talented ākonga (learners) worked collaboratively all term, continuing to use their communication, planning and creative problem-solving skills effectively throughout,” said art teacher Justine Ward.

“Each student has created a true taonga for our kura.

“Their beautiful artworks are made with a lot of aroha and manaaki and will be admired by generations to come. They can be extremely proud of their collective effort.”