Maori Masks

Ranginui and Papatuanuku Legend

Not long after becoming a volunteer with the project I began reading up on the Maori culture. I was so inspired by their culture, espically the legends of their Gods that it was then that I decided to base my final major project around the Maori culture.

Maori elder by Lindauer

The aspect which most inspired me was their social structure and religion. I read over a fair bit of text and also alot of imagery before deciding where to take my project.

I decided that it should be an aspect which can be used in a way to project the Maori culture which children could relate to. My answer: to design interactive props and costumes as learning tools for the children to be able to gain an understanding of the Maori culture.

The legend which I have used is called 'Ranginui and Papatuanuku' which translates into Father Sky & Mother Earth. Which really stood out to me as a beautiful way of seeing how the earth was made.

http://history-nz.org/maori9.html This link will lead you to a site which tells the myths and legends of the Maori people. You can read Rangi and Papa story.

Leather Masks by Petite Seamstress based on Rangi & Papa, for the Dorman Museum, Stories of The World.

As you can see from the picture above I designed and constructed masks based on the Maori Creation Story. Interprating each character creativily, mainly inspired by their role and New Zealand landcape. With of course a touch of creative flare!

If you have clicked the link and had a little read then you will know that are 8 main characters in the story. All of Rangi & Papa's children (masks) can be worn be by the children whom visit the exhibition this year. I made the decision not to allow the Rangi & Papa masks to be worn, simply out of respect for Maori cultre. Feeling that they are their Gods I thought it inapproaite to have children representing them in play. So, they will be mounted up in the story telling area, just out of reach of little fingers yet positioned well for them to enjoy them.

Meet The Masks

Tane, God of the forset, birds and insects

Tangaroa, God of the sea

Tu, God of war

Rongo, God of cultivated crops

Tawhiri, God of weather

Huamia, God of Wild food

Costumes Designed Inspired By Maori & Aboriginal Myths and Legends

Background of Stories of The World

For those of you who are unfamilar with this Stories of the World it is a project run by The Cultural Olympaid, aimed at 14-24 year olds to enable them to work along side curators of museum up and down the UK. The young curators have the chance to bring their ideas and concepts to their museum, voicing their opinions on how they would like museums to create exhibitions which will appeal to their age groups. This invovative projects main aim is change the sometimes drab and dated exhibtion layouts of the past and make them exciting and fresh. It gives young curators a chance gain experience behind the scenes at museums which they may never have had access to, and curators to gain a new perspective on exhibtions from the young peoples perpective. Each museum has chosen a topic of interest to build their exhibition on.
I am invloved in one of the North East exhibitions, based at The Dorman Musuem, Middlesbrough. It has been a a very thought provoking, exciting and sometimes changelling experience (I would not change a thing). Our group has such a diverse range of young curators from very different backgrounds, at times difficult converation have been had. Although we have always over come these difficulties and found solutions. I feel that the conversations have been the most important lessons to be learnt, as the best ideas always come from differences. It changels each idivdual to come up with a bigger and better idea...as a group!
Our project is based on the journys of Captain Cook, most importantly, the people he encounted on his travels. The foundation of our exhibition is working with source communities to ensure that we stay their voices are head, ensuring that we do not revert back to telling their story for them. Which has been the way museums have conducted exhibtions in the past. So far groups like the Prince's Trust have worked along side Maori artist George Nuku, to create Maori carvings for the exhibition. Another amazing person we have had the pleasure to work with is Aborginal Story teller Franis Firebrace. Who has touched each one of our hearts with his inspirational stories from the Aborginal community.
http://www.journeysofdiscovery.org.uk/home.html to find out more about each exhibition.