Ka Mua, Ka Muri
In March 2020 Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts commissioned a street mural by Xoë Hall (Kai Tahu), with a brief to embody the creativity that lives here on the Pukeahu campus.
Xoë Hall at work on the mural.
Ka Mua, Ka Muri, west wall.
Ka Mua, Ka Muri, north view, detail.
Xoë’s mural acknowledges the College's heritage through a narrative that looks to the past while walking to the future. It celebrates the value of creativity to our cultural identity and wellbeing and illustrates the hope that creative solutions can bring to what lies ahead.
The result provides a vibrant and positive message about the future for everyone, and an eye-catching signpost for visitors to the Massey Wellington campus.
Ka Mua, Ka Muri, in the artist's words
A story mural that was designed after the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, with dreams of a better and more sustainable future for our people and our land in mind.
I think it is important to go back to the beginning, back to our roots, to find the pieces of the future we want to build. And in the beginning there was complete darkness. Darkness caused by the greatest love there ever was!
The mural is read from right to left, from past to future, beginning at the Gym wall and ending on the north wall of the Wellington Electricity Substation.
Ranginui and Papatūānuku, detail from Ka Mua, Ka Muri.
Ka Mua, Ka Muri, north view.
RANGINUI and PAPATŪĀNUKU held each other so tight, no light could get in. But, like all tragic love stories, they were eventually separated forever by their sons, and today we bask in the sun.
HIWA-I-TE-RANGI, a star of Matariki, is the one we send our wishes and intentions to for the year to come. Well 2020 has turned the world on its head so let's start again. I wish we all do a lot better for the planet and each other.
HINE-NUI-TE-PŌ, the death of an old era, death to broken systems, colonisation, racism, sexism, slavery, pollution and everything else that is hurting the planet and each other. It doesn't work.
HINE-TĪTAMA , the flashing dawn of a new era! Let's take all that good stuff with us into the future like equality, sustainability, and kindness for a start. Manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, haere whakamua.
MAHUIKA, lights the way out of the dark with her firey nails glowing like torches. Fire to warm your bones and fuel your heart. Fire for the fiery! And as MĀUI found out, those who mess with ancestral fire, get burnt.
FUTURE, coming soon...
Xx Xoë
Acknowledgements
Thanks go to everyone who played a part in making this mural happen, from paint suppliers and coffee baristas to Wellington High School Year 10 Art students and Wellington Access Hire for their cool cherry picker.
Special shout out to Massey University, Wellington Electricity, Wellington City Council and Wellington High School – we couldn’t have done it without you!