Tullia Pye

Am I Māori enough yet?

Cover

In this work I am exploring my Māori identity and my experiences of growing up in Tokoroa. I constantly battle with the idea that maybe I am not ‘Māori enough’ because I lack a lot of knowledge when it comes to Māoridom. In these videos, I attempt to unpack the limited knowledge I have gathered throughout my life about all things Māori. This knowledge is shared through storytelling, and recalling funny and sometimes cringe-worthy memories from my youth.

Although I have limited Te Reo speaking abilities, I have picked up a few phrases and words along the way, which are seen in these videos. I feel as though my way of connecting with my Māori side is by speaking and teaching others. Learning Māori customs as a kid, whether it be from visiting a Marae, or talking to my Koro, has proven very valuable. I may not know everything there is to know, but I feel I can pass on what I do know to my peers. A lot of what I have learned has been through experience and from witnessing others fumble with the many strict protocols that Māori adhere to.

Screen Shot 2016 10 24 At 1 40 53 Pm

I hope to engage with the audience on a personal level, and hope that they are able to draw parallels between my life and their own lives. Perhaps some of my experiences of growing up Māori will strike a chord with someone who is not Māori, and this is another interest of mine - how different ethnicities may seem worlds apart, but can have many similarities. I hope also, that the audience can take something away from these videos, a new phrase in Te Reo, perhaps. I feel it is important that we as New Zealanders engage with Māori culture, even if it is as simple as saying “Kia Ora” to one another.

"Upokokohua"
14786864 10205858041649342 1035894371 O
Images of final work at Elam. Presented in computer lab.
14808935 10205858041409336 1234784416 O
027 A3755

Related Artists