Matariki
ARONUI Indigenous Arts Festival and Cian Elyse White and Mataia Keepa

Presented by ARONUI Indigenous Arts Festival

ARONUI Indigenous Arts Festival with First Lights presented Matariki, a drone light, sound and story event during midwinter at the Rotorua Lakefront, Aotearoa.

Created by Māori artists Cian Elyse White (Ngāti Pikiao) and Mataia Keepa (Ngāti Whakaue), Matariki (the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades) told the stories of environmental markers connected to this star cluster, as well as the large Waka or Canoe (Te Waka o Rangi) and it’s captain Taramainuku. Throughout the year, Taramainuku traverses the sky with a large net, collecting the souls of those who have passed away across the year.

During the month of May, Te Waka o Rangi sails beneath the horizon, rising again in June/July. When it rises, Taramainuku casts his net into the sky, releasing the collected souls to be immortalised forever as stars.

Signalling the start of a new year, Matariki invited audiences to look to the night sky and consider their human connection to the celestial realm.

Artists and Narrators: Cian Elyse White and Mataia Keepa featuring Rangitiaria Tibble
Music: James Webster
Sound Design: Envelope Audio (Ned Beckley)
Animation: Jarrad Russell
Produced by Aronui Arts Festival, First Lights (Fremantle Biennale) and Stellar Lights

https://player.vimeo.com/video/944308631?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479