Home in Motion: Negotiating New Media Spaces of Belonging in the Context of Māori Art, Lisa Reihana, Rachael Rakena and Natalie Robertson.

Abstract

This thesis seeks to understand the relationship of non-linear time, spaces, human connections, spirituality and symbolism to places in creating a home space. New media spaces provide new domains to populate with ancestors and shape with narratives. This conceptual notion of shaping spaces of ‘belonging’ links to the Māori paradigm of mauri (life force of all living things). The process of creating turangawaewae (place to stand), through Māori narrative and ontology in this medium shows the mobility of human elements of connection and processes of identification. This mobility, is seen in work of the artists I have chosen to examine. They collectively show three spaces through which they connect with personally, with community and ancestors while they demonstrate a continuity of innovative artistic practices. This exploration views how local stories find spaces in global connections.