This is the first iteration of Pounga Wai – a Digital River. The mana whenua designs form a wall for the ripple data to move through. The river flow interacts with the designs in a meditative, rhythmic manner. The first design here is a culmination of Patikitiki & Niho-taniwha. This is a shortened version of the full animated data work.
Te Puwaha is a work directly sourced by the audio/visual recording & footage taken at Te Puwaha, the mouth of the Whanganui River.
Breakdown about Te Puwaha Data visualisation
Virtual Awa was made using 3D modelling software. The water mesh was created to simulate the currents and flow of the river as it reaches Tangaroa, the ocean. This is a water simulation about the outgoing tide. We are interested in creating work that references our tribal waiata (this work was inspired by ‘Whakapukepuke’). Virtual Awa was projected at Orphic Gallery in Whanganui, 22 February 2022 for the Anniversarium show. This is an ongoing investigation into the implementation of our tribal korero into data simulations to output visual works in a contemporary manner.
‘Rangitekiwa’ has been described as a transcendent space in which wairua are dispersed as stars. Puanga (Rigel) is a blue supergiant- a star in the Orion constellation. Puanga is seen as a time for ritual cleansing & wānanga. This work has been made during the time that we begin to see the signs of Puanga.
‘Rangitekiwa’ is a work that questions our human relationship with the natural world. We have been presented with many signs that are beyond alarming. For this digital artwork, we use scientific data (taken from a recent coronial mass ejection & solar flare event- April 2023) to drive the particle elements, presented as star formation, in a dark cloud interior. Rangitekiwa, in relation to this work, is a celestial space energised by a solar event.
We would like to acknowledge Che Wilson for sharing his matauranga in relation to Rangitekiwa and Puanga. The korero that he has generously given in other forums has been the inspiration for this work.
‘Ellam Yua‘ (translated here as Universal person – understanding that there is a more indepth meaning for this concept given by Donna Bach and people affiliated to the Yupik tribe who were present at the workshop). Thanks to Donna and others for sharing this beautiful design and the associate narrative. The sound is the bird call of the Bald Eagle, retrieved from the Bureau of Land Management site. This bird call drives the movement of the animation. This is a code and sound driven animation with a sentinel, indigenous design element embedded within the work. An ancient cultural marker from the native Alaskan people, the Yupik. Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa, te mana whenua – we thank and acknowledge the native tribes of Alaska, especially Donna Bach for contributing this beautiful design.