ARTWORK OF AUCKLAND
TUARONGO: TE WHAKAPAPA O TE WAI
Artists: Kahurangi Su and Chemice AhuIn the sacred dance of nature, (Mother Earth) Papatūānuku and (Sky Father) Ranginui's love, paints the sky with their eternal bond, cycling water from earth to the heavens and back. Such is the circle of life, so too is the cycle of water. This celestial cycle showcases the intricate connections between all beings, emphasising water's crucial role in harmonising societal, economic, and environmental spheres globally.
Water is the spiritual and physical essence of Mother Earth and Sky Father, connecting all living beings in a sacred cycle of life, renewal, and healing.
TARA WHĀITI: TE MAURI O TE WAI
Artist: Jordan ClarkeWater is the life force of humanity, the essence of the world Wai bridges the gap between ira atua and ira tangata, just as we, as individuals, form connections within humanity.
Within the intricate pattern work of this piece, like water, we become the conduits through which compassion, understanding, and care traverse, linking the land with its people and forging bonds that sustain us all. Wai is the common thread that binds us in Aotearoa, across Te Moana Nui-a-Kiwa, and beyond.
The symbolic motifs signify evolution, guardianship, guidance, strength, courage, perseverance, and new life. These distinctive features conform with the ebbs and flows of human behaviour and acknowledge that change can sway our moods' fluidity, like the ripples of wai. As water adapts to its container, we are encouraged to adjust to different situations and challenges. It highlights a profound understanding of how the dual nature of water, mirroring our taiao and the wairua or essence of the places we encounter, influences well-being and productivity.
This work of art is a visual representation of the holistic connection between ira tangata and ira atua, humanity and nature. It speaks to "kaitiakitanga" stewardship and reminds us, the custodians of water, to safeguard te mauri o te Wai for it reflects how we, in turn, treat the life force of humanity
WAHAROA: TE ARA WAI
Artist: Alex HeperiThe basis of this piece captures the kōrero around past and future, the fluidity of wai as well as the growth and aspirations of WSP. Kowhaiwhai represent the functionality and technical nature of the mahi that WSP Aotearoa undertakes. It shows the surge of the ngaru and waves as momentum builds within the company to embark on new journeys.
Roimata toroa, through the use of tukutuku, signify the loss that occurred through the Public Works Act, and the associated impacts on whenua and wai. This piece offers a way for grieving and cleansing, and ties in with the manu in the surrounding mahi toi pieces.
The kowhaiwhai integrate the rauru pattern that signifies connection and growth with the puhoro, for the movement as well as the advancement of WSP Aotearoa into navigating new futures.
The left panel represents Ranginui and the right is Papatūānuku. When the waharoa is opened it is Papatūānuku who will welcome manuhiri into the space. The reference to Ranginui and Papatūānuku also signify the creation and moving from te kore into te pō, and then through to te ao marama. Through this, the Waiaroha represents their reciprocal energy through wai they have for each other and for both tangata and whenua.
TĀHUHU: TE PO
Artist: Amy Te MaroThis piece captures the moment in karanga where we acknowledge our tīpuna and those who have passed. We reflect at this moment in the realm of te pō, glancing up into the darkness is Pōhutukawa.
Pōhutukawa is the star of remembrance, associated with those who have passed on. Pōhutukawa guides those who have passed, across the night sky along the pathway of spirits known as Te Ara Wairua – this haerenga ends at the tip of Te Ika-a-Māui at Te Rerenga Wairua where an ancient Pōhutukawa tree stands on a rocky ledge near the moana. The spirits descend the aka of the tree entering the realm of Hine-nui-te-pō.
Te whetū Pōhutukawa is also associated with healing and regeneration meaning this piece is both an acknowledgement of what once was but symbolic of renewal and what is to come. This piece encompasses this mātauranga by reflecting it through the pūrākau of Māui seeking eternal life. The manu (bird) represents the Tīwaiwaka (fantail) that laughs and startled awake Hine-nui-te-pō.
The orientation of the manu points to te ao Mārama, in an acknowledgement to the healing and regeneration associated with te whetū Pōhutukawa.
The abstract perforations represent the night sky, the whetū allowing dappled light to pass through into the space below.
TĀHUHU: TE AO MĀRAMA
Artist: Amy Te MaroTe ao Mārama holding point reflects a pause in the karanga. We acknowledge the present and the living. We acknowledge our living through the pūrākau of Māui slowing Tama-nui-te-rā (the sun).
It is the slowing of Tama-nui-te-rā, where the world that they knew changed from a world of much darkness to a world with an abundance of light.
Te pō traverses to te ao Mārama. Tama-nui-te-rā is an extension of te pō, he has the ability to make the lightness of the days shorter as he makes his way from Hine Raumati to Hine Takurua. Māui became hōhā (annoyed) with the shortness of light in the days so he slowed the movements of Tama-nui-te-rā across the sky allowing for more light to be let into the world.
This piece encompasses the pūrākau through the expression of a takarangi. The takarangi is a representation of the two worlds, te pō and te ao Mārama traversing into one - acknowledging the journey from te pō) to te ao Mārama. The perforations in the design allows the emergence of māramatanga taiahoaho (clear enduring light), knowledge and growth to enter the world.