A.K.A Letterpress Print 9/18 | FRAMED

A.K.A Letterpress Print 9/18 - FRAMED

These works stemmed from the thinking space before creating my larger works for my Masters of Māori Visual arts 2023, through Toioho Ki Apiti, Massey University Palmerston North. These works were made on a letter-press as I wanted to learn how they operated and I found you needed to stack and space the lettering to fit like a puzzle. I kept thinking of the land and strata, the layers of the land, also how we layer our histories up one version on top of the next. While making these kupu-papa (Kupu - word, papa - layer) or layered word works I was thinking about that and making connections between words, revealing relationships that connect them, like our own whakapapa.

My research looked at the effects of the introduction of the printing press to Aotearoa. This took me on a journey into history and the coming of the letter-press driven by the missionaries in the hopes of evangelising and civilising Māori. Indoctrination was one of the first strategic steps of colonisation. Once you colonise the spirit and the beliefs the rest comes.

My first kupu-papa was A.K.A or Also Known As. It stacked all five versions of the word whakarongo (commonly known as listen) one atop the next emphasising the similarities and the differences. Highlighting the connections and differences of language in what we call mita (accents/dialects). This work acknowledges 5 known dialects within Te Reo Māori. I purposefully highlighted the AKA aspect. Initially I connected this to the phrase ‘Also known as’ that is used in English conversation to reveal what you might also know something as, making connections. So Whakarongo, also known as Hakarongo, also known as Wakarongo, also known as Whakaroko, also known as Whakarono depending on where you are in the country you may hear a differing version.
When I looked at the letters A.K.A. again I looked it up as a word and it means vine. The vine that grows up and around the trunks of our massive native trees in the ngahere (bush).
The vines that connect us all together and that seek the light or enlightenment. I looked again at the search engine I was using and saw for the first time the online Māori dictionary is called Te Aka. The print A.K.A still highlights connections and differences in a beautifully simple way and reminds us to hold onto the unique aspects of ourselves, not to become standardised for the ease of others.
I have learnt Te Reo Maori through various wananga, namely Te Wananga O Aotearoa, an amazing resource. Over time I have learnt more about the language, about Te Reo Māori and how it is built, I have had lessons on kupuhuna or hidden words within words. During my research for the masters I was attending evening wananga with a wonderful mentor and she was able to expose, unlock, reveal many kupuhuna. I made notes and started to see these as stacks of words revealing the smaller powerful hidden words that connect these kupu together. The language is rich beyond compare and truly a taonga tuku iho - a treasure handed down.

Dimensions:
Framed - Width - 387mm x Height 535mm

Please Note -
Due to Vanessa Wairata Edward's print process & approach, there may be variations within the colours and textures - making each print unique in nature. The overall essence of the print will remain the same & remain true to the visual representation seen within the imagery.

The 'in situ mockup' is merely an example of visual representation within an environment and it does not truly reflect the size of the print. Please refer to the measurements above for the exact dimensions of this work.