Ka Mua, Ka Muri: Mike Cameron
Mike Cameron's exhibition Ka Mua, Ka Muri – Walking Backwards into the Future, opened Saturday 13th Oct at No 1 Parnell. Mike is an emerging artist who works in mixed media with a passion for sculpture and carving. Over the past three years he has been immersed in art through studying Maunga Kura Toi (Bachelor of Maori Art) at North Tech, Whangarei. The focus for Mike has always been to carefully research to then be able to put his own thoughts and whakaaro (thinking) into the works.
Mike writes: ‘Through this combination of research and then adding myself to the works, it has brought me closer to the kaupapa of Walking Backwards in to the Future. The works are a symbol of the past with epistemology ( ongoing and enduring knowledge) at their heart and so walking backwards to our tupuna (elders), whilst allowing for a contemporary feel to be placed in the works, hence the looking to the future. An example of the works of “ what once was” and “ into the now” are three plastic works. These are my take on the Whariki- woven mat which are used in Haputonga (birthing practice). Customary practice used harakeke, which is biodegradable - now we are using plastic sheets which take decades to break down. The use of rubbish, tape and items I have sourced through dumpster diving make the mats and is symbolic of the damage we are doing to our whenua( land). I believe if we do not do something soon, we are going to be living in rubbish.
Mike was born and grew up in Whangarei and has been a stay at home dad allowing him to complete his art projects in a purpose built studio at home. He has shown his works in group exhibitions as well as being involved in the carving of the inside of the Northtec Marae in 2015 and carving of pou for the Kawhea harbour in 2016.
Mike writes: ‘Through this combination of research and then adding myself to the works, it has brought me closer to the kaupapa of Walking Backwards in to the Future. The works are a symbol of the past with epistemology ( ongoing and enduring knowledge) at their heart and so walking backwards to our tupuna (elders), whilst allowing for a contemporary feel to be placed in the works, hence the looking to the future. An example of the works of “ what once was” and “ into the now” are three plastic works. These are my take on the Whariki- woven mat which are used in Haputonga (birthing practice). Customary practice used harakeke, which is biodegradable - now we are using plastic sheets which take decades to break down. The use of rubbish, tape and items I have sourced through dumpster diving make the mats and is symbolic of the damage we are doing to our whenua( land). I believe if we do not do something soon, we are going to be living in rubbish.
Mike was born and grew up in Whangarei and has been a stay at home dad allowing him to complete his art projects in a purpose built studio at home. He has shown his works in group exhibitions as well as being involved in the carving of the inside of the Northtec Marae in 2015 and carving of pou for the Kawhea harbour in 2016.
