Raranga, which is the art of weaving was something that the Maori first utilized as they were adapting to the new climate in Aotearoa. By weaving they were able to produce cloaks, known as korowai, baskets (kete) and mats (whariki). These all aided in the adaptation to a new climate that was considered to be extreme compared to the original homeland in Polynesia.
The weaving was done by women and weaving was considered to be a prized trait in the Maori tribe. The Maori had a proverb that went as "Aitia te wahine o te pa harakeke". This translates to marry the women who is always at the flax bush, for she is an expert flax worker and an industrious person. This was their way of finding a strong women in the tribe that not only could raise a family but also provide support.
The art of carving known as Whakairo, was done mostly by men. Each carving does more than just play the role of being a decorative piece. Maori carvings each have a unique story behind them. These are usually stories that are passed down from generation to generation. These carvings are also seen through canoes and buildings withing the villages. The carvings also were used to carve ear pendants, breast pendants and carved combs.
The carvings are also symbolic. Each tribe has their own symbols such as the tiki, which is the human figure, then a nother tribe will use the manaia, The manaia is a creature that has a bird like head but with the body of a serpent. Their inspiration came from the environment around them and can be seen through various carvings and weaving projects.
Jstor.org
2015. Damien Skinner.The Carver and The Artist.Maori Art in the Twentieth Century. Vol 120. No. 1. Pg.94-95 . http://www.jstor.org/stable/23041484. Accessed March 25, 2015.
When I think of art I think of paintings from a museum and from what I have learned in school through out history courses. But after reading about the Maori and seeing how they express their past traditions and stories through their arts it had me thinking about how my generation does this. In today's society and I see this with my friends, we use the internet as a way of art. Social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have been the main focus for people to express what is on their minds, past stories and to show what they value as art. The Maori used carvings as way to express their rich traditions and also used it as a tool to tell a story. From what I have seen, Facebook has been the main tool or Instagram with all of my friends and relatives posting pics about their glory days and can't forget the baby pictures.
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