March 10, 2020
Virtual reality channel for Maori transmission
Virtual reality, 3D printing and whakairo are being brought together in a new exhibition that explores the oral transmission of Māori culture.
Artist Kereama Taepa, whose practice includes sculpture and multimedia as well as running the Urbanmāori fashion label, says new technology is key to evolving Māori as a language.
He says while Māori is now written down, in the past knowledge was primarily transmitted through sound, carving and moko.
Even now he sees the way his students struggle with written language.
"I'm not saying that we shouldn't be writing but what I am saying is essentially we can utilise new technologies, emerging technologies to pass on knowledge and record knowledge that is probably more aligned with the way our tupuna were doing," he says.
Kereama Taepa’s show Transmission opens at Auckland’s Objectspace Gallery this evening.
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