Art Installations
Our team combines innovation, craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of your vision to create installations that leave a lasting impression. From concept to execution, we turn spaces into immersive works of art, each telling a unique story and inviting exploration.
01
The Pohū Game
Commissioned in 2021 by the Auckland Council Regional Arts team, The Pohū Game was developed as a placemaking-focused arts and cultural offering for Tāmaki Makaurau.
The larger-than-life, brightly-coloured art installation celebrates the unique and endangered native plant of Pōhutukawa and critically endangered Rātā Moehau mixed with the popular game of Noughts and Crosses, fostering wellbeing and connection through play. The game also provides an important platform by which the sharing of purakau, Te Ao Māori values and environmental education can take place.
Programming:
The arts installation was designed to meet the key goals outlined in Toi Whitiki – Auckland’s Arts and Culture Strategic Action Plan. In the document, the actionable objective is outlined as follows: To “Integrate arts and culture into our everyday lives” by meeting the action plan goals outlined by Auckland Council.
Te Ao Māori:
Underpining the kaupapa (thinking) of the art installation, The Pohū Game has an overarching Te Ao (environment) and tāngata (people) focus, and fosters core values such as whanaungatanga (connection), manaakitanga (support), wairuatanga (spirituality) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
The Pohū Game provides opportunities for enriching community engagement, celebrating Māori culture and Aotearoa themes, enhancing our community spaces, strengthening connections and fostering environmental awareness.
Cultural Appreciation and Understanding:
Exposure to Māori art and the process of creating it provides the community with an opportunity to appreciate and understand Māori culture, aesthetics, and artistic traditions.
Environmental Awareness:
Emphasize the environmental stewardship aspect of Te Ao Māori by showcasing endangered trees. This aligns with the respect for nature found in Māori culture.
Sharing purakau (stories):
Celebrating the Māori cultural and ecological significance of the Pohutukawa and Rata Moehau trees.
Cross-Cultural Understanding:
Facilitate activities or discussions that promote cross-cultural understanding and respect. Encourage open dialogues between community members and local iwi representatives.
02
Whanonga Pono Stairs
Clendon Library, Manurewa
Whanonga Pono Stairs: A Stairway of Principles
Embark on a transformative journey through our Whanonga Pono Stairs, a permanant, vibrant and meaningful addition to the Clendon Library space. This collaborative piece, was a sister project along with the Waters of Waimāhia mural, and stands as a testament to the power of art in shaping community spaces.
Inspired by the vivid hues of the rainbow and shaped by invaluable community feedback, these stairs are more than mere steps; they are a canvas of emotions and aspirations. As you ascend, a profound narrative unfolds, guiding you through layers of significance. Beginning with earthly colours coupled with the foundational feelings of home, safety, whānau (family), and love. Transition seamlessly to deeper concepts, embracing belief, respect, empowerment, hope, courage, dreaming, and ultimately, happiness represented by the spiritual colour of violet.
Pulling the kupu (word) and English translation together is a symbol representing togetherness. Two smaller triangles signify the Maunga (mountains) of Ngā Matukurua, the two brothers, and within, three kete invite you to infuse them with your own meaning. One of these kete cradles the Waters of Waimahia, depicted by the gentle waves, offering a connection to the source of inspiration.
Whanonga Pono Stairs serve as a visual and contemplative experience, inviting visitors to reflect on the layers of meaning embedded in each step. This stairway is not just a physical connection between levels; it's a symbolic journey that mirrors the diverse facets of our shared human experience.
03
A Common Chore
A Common Chore: Celebrating Unity in Everyday Tasks
Created for the annual World of Cultures event, "A Common Chore," is an art installation that transcends cultural boundaries and highlights the beauty in our shared daily experiences. This unique creation takes the form of a clothesline adorned with garments representing diverse cultures—a tactile and visual celebration of a common chore that unites us all.
Just as the aromas and flavors around a dinner table suggest the cultural origins of the dishes, "A Common Chore" invites you to explore the significance of another daily activity that binds us together—the washing and drying of clothes. This art installation serves as a powerful acknowledgment of the toil and dedication of women, men, and children who partake in the common and humble activity of hanging their freshly washed clothes to dry.
As you engage with the garments on the clothesline, feel the textures, and admire the craftsmanship, let it be a reminder of the shared humanity that transcends cultural differences. The diversity of clothing represents the rich tapestry of cultures around the world, emphasizing that, despite our distinctions, there are common threads that connect us all.
"A Common Chore" is more than an art installation; it's an invitation to appreciate the beauty in our shared routines and the simplicity that binds us across borders.
04
Together
TOGETHER: Unveiling the Essence of Unity and Diversity
Delve into the heart of "TOGETHER," an extraordinary art installation crafted in collaboration with the community and tamariki. This masterpiece comprises four panels, each a visual symphony celebrating Auckland's rich diversity and the interconnectedness of its communities.
The Brief:
A Celebration of Cultural Expression
Challenged with a tight timeframe to bring artistic expression to Auckland's annual multicultural festival, Pohū set out to create two entrance-ways that would serve as a vibrant celebration of diversity. The goal was to introduce art intentionally into the event, leaving visitors with a profound sense of acknowledgment and belonging.
The Solution:
Interactive Art Panels "Together"
"TOGETHER" emerged as a solution to encourage interaction and provoke thoughtful responses. There are four panels representing the dynamic interplay between cultures, fostering positive notions of companionship, associations, similarities, and differences.
Panel One: We are all connected.
The rainbow, a symbol of hope and a bridge between cultures, reaches out to form strong bonds. Raindrops symbolise diverse cultures, collectively falling into the same ocean of humanity, highlighting our shared origins.
Panel Two: We are all one.
Life's twists and turns are embraced, symbolised by an infinite window. Created by the young artists of Manurewa Central School, this panel features a symbolic cloak of feathers, embodying leadership and the responsibility to care for both people and the environment.
Panel Three: Love is everything.
Love transcends boundaries, fostering peace and forgiveness. It forms deep bonds within ourselves, communities, and the broader universe. Through love, healing, peace, and unity can flourish.
Panel Four: New beginnings, new life.
The koru, symbolising new beginnings, intertwines with the spiritual significance of the Poutama pattern. The staircase represents growth, attainment, and the varied paths toward self-improvement.
"TOGETHER" is a visual journey, inviting viewers to engage with the interconnected stories embedded in each panel. It reflects the diverse fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau's communities and serves as a testament to the power of art to unite, inspire, and elevate.
