Digital art and music combined
Touring through New Zealand for Chamber Music New Zealand, "Mai Te Uira" brings the work of multidisciplinary artist Kereama Taepa (Te Arawa, Te Āti Awa) together with musician, producer and innovator Tiki Taane (Ngāti Maniapoto) .
The show will be presented at Dunedin's Glenroy Auditorium next Wednesday, June 18, at 7.30pm.
Grounded in a karakia (prayer) that references the atua (spirit) and whakapapa (ancestry) of their artforms, Mai Te Uira explores the transformative nature of innovation.
Featuring animated digital art by Kereama, Taane taps into his own deep well of creativity to create live loops and improvisations in response on stage.
This collaboration is the result of a partnership between The Dowse Art Museum and Chamber Music New Zealand.
brenda.harwood@thestar.co.nz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
22-06-2025
- Scoop
Aronui Hosts Thousands On The Rotorua Lakefront For Matariki Drone Show
Press Release – ARONUI Indigenous Arts Festival Painting a story across the night sky in a mesmerising performance, manuhiri [visitors] and residents of Rotorua were treated to a story of Matariki, told by Ngti Whakaue/ Te Arawa artists. The stars aligned on Friday and Saturday for the Aronui Drone Show above Kouramāwhitiwhiti (Rotorua Lakefront) for captivating Matariki storytelling experiences featuring drones, light and sound displays. Part of a wider offering from the Aronui Arts Festival, this was the second year of hosting Matariki events in Rotorua. Painting a story across the night sky in a mesmerising performance, manuhiri [visitors] and residents of Rotorua were treated to a story of Matariki, told by Ngāti Whakaue/ Te Arawa artists. Funded by One Foundation, Rotorua Trust, Rotorua Lakes Council, DIA Lotteries and Rotorua NZ, the free outdoor event is a world-first performance and New Zealand's largest drone show. that pays tribute to the Māori New Year, telling the story of Matariki using drones as the medium. The show has been recognised as a combination of cutting-edge technology, rooted in ancient knowledge. It tells a story of honouring those who passed in the year since the rising and setting of Matariki the previous year; focussing on the lifting of their memory to the stars, where they will be forever remembered by their loved ones. June Grant ONZM, one of Aronui's Board of Trustees said the fusion of tech, culture and the arts shows the relevance of mātauranga Māori [knowledge, wisdom] in contemporary arts: ' The movement of drones can represent the stars of the Matariki cluster, the flight of manu, or the journey of souls returning to the heavens. Each shape can hold deep meaning combining ancient knowledge with futuristic tools. This fusion shows the world that mātauranga Māori is alive, relevant, and adaptable, grounded in the wisdoms of our Tūpuna and open to new ways of expression.' The festival transformed Rotorua's nightlife at the Village Green into a scene of energy and new beginnings as Rotorua's residents and visitors herald in the Māori New Year over the long weekend. Organisers say thousands came to see the show, with some people video calling loved ones in, from all over the world. For its second year, additions were made to the performance which included tohunga reo/ taonga puoro artist Dr. Anaha Hiini. He joined the team, crafting a live soundscape using traditional Māori instruments to accompany the visual storytelling alongside taonga puoro artist Riki Bennett. This year the entire performance- narrative and music- was broadcast live on Te Arawa FM, for the first time, expanding its reach across the region. Dr. Hiini said: 'I want it to illuminate the stories, meanings, and traditions behind this sacred time. The show should offer both education and inspiration, helping people not only to understand Matariki, but to feel its presence, history and relevance in our lives today.' Aronui Chief Executive and Artistic Director Cian Elyse White says the positive response from the community inspired a bolder return; 'The energy last year was electric- there was such a positive vibe in the city, with people travelling from across the motu to see the show. Matariki holds deep meaning for Māori, and it's wonderful to see the new year being embraced by the wider community.' During the 2024 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards, Aronui won the Mountain Jade award for Creative Arts and Design. They were also a finalist in Scion's Innovation and Technology category. The Rotorua Matariki celebrations also included an Exhibition of Light at the Arts Village and an expanded Rotorua Night Market that showcased food, crafts, and stalls from past Aronui Māori Market vendors, it ran on June Friday 20 and Saturday 21 – turning the lakefront into a vibrant place to spend the Matariki long weekend. Aronui Chairwoman, Mercia-Dawn Yates said the drone show is a powerful way to share mātauranga Māor i: 'I'm incredibly excited to be showcasing our stories in such a powerful and innovative way. Using modern technology as a vessel to share mātauranga Matariki allows us to honour our traditions while reaching new audiences, ensuring our knowledge continues to shine brightly into the future. Mānawatia a Matariki.'
Scoop
22-06-2025
- Scoop
Aronui Hosts Thousands On The Rotorua Lakefront For Matariki Drone Show
The stars aligned on Friday and Saturday for the Aronui Drone Show above Kouramāwhitiwhiti (Rotorua Lakefront) for captivating Matariki storytelling experiences featuring drones, light and sound displays. Part of a wider offering from the Aronui Arts Festival, this was the second year of hosting Matariki events in Rotorua. Painting a story across the night sky in a mesmerising performance, manuhiri [visitors] and residents of Rotorua were treated to a story of Matariki, told by Ngāti Whakaue/ Te Arawa artists. Funded by One Foundation, Rotorua Trust, Rotorua Lakes Council, DIA Lotteries and Rotorua NZ, the free outdoor event is a world-first performance and New Zealand's largest drone show. that pays tribute to the Māori New Year, telling the story of Matariki using drones as the medium. The show has been recognised as a combination of cutting-edge technology, rooted in ancient knowledge. It tells a story of honouring those who passed in the year since the rising and setting of Matariki the previous year; focussing on the lifting of their memory to the stars, where they will be forever remembered by their loved ones. June Grant ONZM, one of Aronui's Board of Trustees said the fusion of tech, culture and the arts shows the relevance of mātauranga Māori [knowledge, wisdom] in contemporary arts: ' The movement of drones can represent the stars of the Matariki cluster, the flight of manu, or the journey of souls returning to the heavens. Each shape can hold deep meaning combining ancient knowledge with futuristic tools. This fusion shows the world that mātauranga Māori is alive, relevant, and adaptable, grounded in the wisdoms of our Tūpuna and open to new ways of expression.' The festival transformed Rotorua's nightlife at the Village Green into a scene of energy and new beginnings as Rotorua's residents and visitors herald in the Māori New Year over the long weekend. Organisers say thousands came to see the show, with some people video calling loved ones in, from all over the world. For its second year, additions were made to the performance which included tohunga reo/ taonga puoro artist Dr. Anaha Hiini. He joined the team, crafting a live soundscape using traditional Māori instruments to accompany the visual storytelling alongside taonga puoro artist Riki Bennett. This year the entire performance- narrative and music- was broadcast live on Te Arawa FM, for the first time, expanding its reach across the region. Dr. Hiini said: 'I want it to illuminate the stories, meanings, and traditions behind this sacred time. The show should offer both education and inspiration, helping people not only to understand Matariki, but to feel its presence, history and relevance in our lives today.' Aronui Chief Executive and Artistic Director Cian Elyse White says the positive response from the community inspired a bolder return; 'The energy last year was electric- there was such a positive vibe in the city, with people travelling from across the motu to see the show. Matariki holds deep meaning for Māori, and it's wonderful to see the new year being embraced by the wider community.' During the 2024 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards, Aronui won the Mountain Jade award for Creative Arts and Design. They were also a finalist in Scion's Innovation and Technology category. The Rotorua Matariki celebrations also included an Exhibition of Light at the Arts Village and an expanded Rotorua Night Market that showcased food, crafts, and stalls from past Aronui Māori Market vendors, it ran on June Friday 20 and Saturday 21 - turning the lakefront into a vibrant place to spend the Matariki long weekend. Aronui Chairwoman, Mercia-Dawn Yates said the drone show is a powerful way to share mātauranga Māor i: 'I'm incredibly excited to be showcasing our stories in such a powerful and innovative way. Using modern technology as a vessel to share mātauranga Matariki allows us to honour our traditions while reaching new audiences, ensuring our knowledge continues to shine brightly into the future. Mānawatia a Matariki.'
Otago Daily Times
21-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Taane's ground-breaking sound and vision experience a hit
Tiki Taane. PHOTO: ODT FILES A fully immersive sound and vision experience delivered by Tiki Taane enveloped the large audience at the Glenroy Auditorium on Wednesday night. Chamber Music New Zealand shows itself prepared to showcase Aotearoa's avant garde music and encompass a new audience. The stage is set with a light drawing of full-facial moko wearing headphones. Tiki Taane is one of Aotearoa's award-winning and experimental artists in improvisation and bass culture from his beginnings in Salmonella Dub. He has expanded his artistic range to include directing and producing film and collaborations with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. He is an multimedia artist of extraordinary stamina and versatility. His improvisational skills mean that each performance is unique. For this tour Taane has collaborated with digital artist Kereama Taepa, whose transformation of traditional Māori patterns into the digital realm are mesmerisingly beautiful. Three-dimensional figures of Atua slowly rotate and twist. The stage is darkened as Taane deftly moves between his instruments. The intricacy of his rhythmic patterns wax and wane with timely innovation. Taane's charm takes a cheeky twist as he employs a hammer against bamboo, a stick against a cheese grater and dramatically pulses the motor of an electric drill. His artistry is boundless. The listener travels with the pulse of karakia and sometimes too static images of three Atua, te Uira, god of lightening and therefore electricity, Tanemahuta, who kicks open the earth's creative space and Hine te Iwaiwa who inspires weaving and manipulates visual imagery. Taane remains aware of how far he can take his audience. The performance closes with a grounding guitar solo from Salmonella Dub and with him leading the audience in Hine e Hine. Everyone left the auditorium with smiles on their faces having experienced something uniquely ground breaking, performed and produced excellently.
