Ngā Pari Tai Rua

Ngā Pari Tai Rua considers the flow of the tides, which represent the flow of narratives and their migration from place to place and iwi to iwi. This title reflects the two tides that flow within the artist, Shannon Te Rangihaeata Clamp, the tides of Parirua and the tides of Whakatū, representing his iwi and hapū. This body of work extends beyond the waters of Shannon’s iwi, Ngāti Toa Rangatira in Porirua, through Te Moana o Raukawa to reach the final destination of his hapū, Ngāti Koata in Whakatū.

Based on taonga tuku iho, pūrākau and whākapapa, Shannon’s kaupapa relies on mātauranga-a-iwi and mātauranga-a-hapū (iwi and hapū knowledge systems) to enhance Māori visual concepts and stories.

The works are inspired by customary carvings traditionally found in wharenui and painted panels of carved figures from the 1900s. Shannon’s work recalls stories of kaitiaki and tūpuna from Ngāti Koata and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. He uses Māori symbolism and imagery, such as manaia forms to enhance the deeper meanings of Māori narratives, whākapapa and connection with tūpuna to reflect on the importance of localised narratives and the mana of pūrākau, whenua, moana, awa, iwi, hapū and tūpuna.