Matariki Teen Art Competition
People's Choice Award winner announced
The winner of Manukau Libraries’ Matariki Teen Art Competition is Dominic Paea from Otara. Dominic's sketch was selected from more than thirty entries by Judges Ali Cowley & Ruiha Epiha.
Dominic Paea - winner: "The thoughts behind my art piece is how the Gods have been watching the past and recent generations. It represents a new generation and a time of reflection, and I believe I've expressed it in my art work."
~ Winner of the Matariki Teen Art Competition 2010, Finalist People's Choice Award
Chloe Lau: "I feel that Matariki, as a traditional Maori event, is throughly under-acknowledged within not only the Auckland region, but the New Zealand community as a whole. It is saddening to the me that the Maori culture is so misunderstood by Kiwis when it is as the very heart of our heritage. My artwork, 'Matariki,' aims to approach these ideas. I used the basic colours of yellow, green, and blue and red to represent each of the four seasons. The different patterns and styles of brushwork represent the perpetual changes in our natural surroundings. The penned Maori Tiki is central to the piece and its static visual quality shows that New Zeaalnd's Maori background is constantly existent. I believe that Matariki is far more than Maori New Year; it is a time for celebrations and for Kiwis to remember their roots. Just as the four season quadrants are linked by the tiki in my artwork, New Zealand citizens ought to unite in the beauty of this culture."
~ Entry for Matariki Teen Art Competition, Finalist People's Choice Award
Michelle Young: "We know that Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars known as The Seven Sisters; it is referred to as the traditional Maori New Year. To me, Matariki means families gathering together to reflect the Maori history, to share their achievements and be together. I've expressed what Matariki means to me in my artwork by showing a gathered Maori family of Grandfather, Grandmother, Dad, Mum, Big brother and little sister to portray that Matariki means being together with family.
Where the family are gazing up at the vibrant stars, they stand on the clean, green New Zealand grass where a nearby native fern can be seen and above their heads, two pohutukawa broaden their beautiful petals. Below the family, the view of the dynamic Auckland city can be seen; I've painted many white and yellow dots on the city to show that Auckalnd city is full of life; people are always on the move. The yellow and white dots are lights at the city. On the left of the artwork, I've painted a Maori pattern with the traditional colours of red, black and white.
My artwork shows many New Zealand features; from the pattern, native plants, Sky tower and Harbour Bridge from Auckland city, the Maori Tiki above the Matariki text and mainly, the Maori family. Matariki is important because depending on the traditional visibility of Matariki, the coming season's crop was thought to be determined. The brighter the stars indicated the warmer the season would be, meaning plenty of fresh crops and families will have a good feed. I have expressed what Matariki means to me by illustrating various New Zealand features and creating the bold and dazzling stars to emphasize what Matariki is really about - the Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters."
~ Entry for Matariki Teen Art Competition, Finalist People's Choice Award
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