Patterns of Nature?

The decision to write about Māori Graphic Art.came about because of the increased demand for people wanting to know more about Māori design, particularly Māori graphics. With the growing popularity in Tā Moko and Māori tattoo and the emergence of Māori cultural iconography, Māori design is more popular than ever.

The Māori artist during a period of Rongomatāne (time of peace no war) devoted allot of their time to the arts with an afinity and connection to the natural world. All objects had a whakapapa (geneology) a connection to a living life force and it was to this they imbued this living force into stone, wood, harakeke, water and all forms of life with a deep affection and understanding reflected in the arts.

By observing nature it seemed life moved in a certain rhythmic and cyclic pattern. These patterns were interpreted into kowhaiwhai, (Māori painting) Māori carving (whakairo) and Tā Moko (Māori tattoo)

The koru is one of the most common elements in Māori arts and is used extensively in Kowhaiwhai, Pronounced core-figh-figh The esoteric meaning is (the cyclic rhythm and patterns of nature that follow one after the other) Remnants of old kowhaiwhai designs can still be found on certain carved panels, hue gourds, carvings, and waka paddles some of which were collected when Captain James Cook visited New Zealand from 1769. Understanding the fundamentals of kowhaiwhai is an essential ingredient to the Māori artist.

Kowhaiwhai could be used as a visual reference to recite knowledge and genealogy through the number of pitau, koru and curls telling ancient stories as far back as the beginning of creation. The koru shape is not exclusive to Māori but has been used by other cultures which suggests it is a very old.

Māori artists have painted, shaped and carved patterns into a rich assortment of artworks of all shapes and sizes. With the introduction of European tools and technology, over time they would adopte a more convenient method of producing their work, the old traditional green stone carving tools would be replaced by the steel chisel and revolutionise Māori carving to what it is today.

With the coming of the digital and information age, the growing popularity in Tā Moko and Māori tattoo designs and the emergence of Māori cultural iconography designers are able to use the latest in computer and graphics design software to create spectacular imagery.

Twenty years ago the scene was very different from today. There were not as many Māori digital artists or graphic designers as there are now and certainly few who specialised within the field of Māori design. Compared to traditional Māori arts, Māori graphic design was at its infant stage.

Some who have seen the potential of what technology can do to an ancient artform to transform the medium.Today, it could be said to be the most widely used media out of all the Māori arts because of its many applications in print, television and multimedia as a result of the digital age.

Can it be called art?

The debate whether Māori digital art or graphic design is art can be best left to the eye of the beholder. As a person who enjoys creating I view the mouse of a computer, like a paint brush simply as a tool to be used to create a visual piece of work. Whether it is a graphic or painting the importance is the creative and thinking process behind the work. The medium used to express this is up to each individual artist.

Kowhaiwhai

Māori design involves the basic understanding of a simple element used in all forms of Māori arts. This element is known as the koru or pitau. The koru as a shape is not exclusive to Māori in as much as it has been used by many cultures which suggests it is very old.

Kowhaiwhai

The role of the designer can be very demanding. There is an expectation that because you use a computer you can create a design instantly. This is far from the truth because it involves consultation, planning and the process of creativity.

Computer software enables the designer to create his concept into an electronic form, then developing this to the stage where the computer allows you to re-size, layout and colour your design.
The computer cannot think for you. We are a long way from the day when we can consult a computer to create an original design. Although there is software available to do this through pre-designed templates. If you are wanting an original design, only the creative mind of a human being can achieve this.
The objective of a design is to communicate a message. If this design fulfils this one prime objective both to his client and to their intended audience or market then the graphic designer or artist has more than achieved their goal.