In November 2021 Good Company Arts hosted a research hui representing the start of a new trajectory with Taonga Pūoro and Cinematic Virtual Reality (CVR), following our projects Astrolabe - Whakaterenga (2018), and OneOne - Raranga (2021).
Ariana Tikao, Ruby Solly and Alistair Fraser co-created original music during recording sessions in the presence of Taonga Pūoro composer and New Zealand Arts Icon, kuia Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead.
"Nguru" is the first journey work in our digital-film series that celebrates Taonga Pūoro Musicians and their traditional instruments, connecting these healing voices to dance with new technologies for contemporary storytelling.
The Nguru is the nose flute, which we see depicted in a geometric woven basket form here containing the harakeke whāriki from raranga artists Kahu Collective, adorned by dancer/choreographer Christina Guieb.
Hineraukatauri, Māori goddess of traditional musical instruments, is the kaitiaki of all flutes or kōauau from the Taonga Pūoro whānau. The motif of the Pepe (Case Moth), is evoked through an opening dance with flax-wing mats. In the closing of our film study, the dancer is cocooned like a pupa within the prow of a spectral Nguru form, gliding through space time. Our visual film frame is crafted in the shape of the Pūtōrino embouchure hole (mangai), resembling a Butterfly or Moth. The purpose is to encapsulate a protected environment through which the art work can exist as a kind of omnipresent digital tohu. The premise for this research is bound to the custodian kaupapa of responsibility as kaitiaki for Papatūānuku (Mother Earth).
Ngā mihi nui Gillian, Ariana, Ruby and Alistair for your beautiful mahi and sharing with the Nguru project. Ngā mihi nui Lisa Harding (and Kahu Collective team) and Christina Guieb for your exquisite weaving and dance. Ngā mihi nui Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Creative New Zealand toi Aotearoa for supporting this collaboration process. "Mā te whiritahi, ka whakatutuki ai ngā pūmanawa ā tāngata. Together weaving the realisation of potential".
