Mata Aho Collective in Te Ao Matihiko: Collecting art and its digital components

Tuesday November 20th, 2:30pm-2:55pm @ Rangimarie 1 - Breakout Room

In 2017, Te Papa acquired Mata Aho Collective’s artwork Kiko Moana, after its inclusion in the exhibition Documenta 14 in Kassel, Germany. In addition to the 11 metre long sculptural installation, made from sewn and slashed layers of tarpaulin, Te Papa also acquired the associated Taniwha Tales website (https://www.kikomoana.com/), featuring narratives describing taniwha and water, plus a recording of Mata Aho Collective’s Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/mataahocollective/), which documented the conceptual development of the project.

In this talk, we will describe how this acquisition allowed us to test our tools, processes and methodologies related to digital collecting, and how it has enabled a broadening of the perception about the types of collection items that reside within Te Papa’s Mātauranga Māori collection.

In addition, we will describe the significance of the digital components of this acquisition, and how they enhance the physical artwork by providing further contextual links to the themes of whakapapa and mana wāhine, central concepts of this artwork.

Fiona Moorhead , Te Papa, Collections Information System Manager

Matariki Williams , Curator Mātauranga Māori, Te Papa