Slægtskab: Kauri | Agathis australis

The Botanical Art Society of New Zealand and Space Gallery, Whanganui are delighted to be collaborating in an exhibition ‘For the love of Botanical’ in May 2021 to coincide with World Day of Botanical Art on May 18th.

The aim is to showcase contemporary botanical art in all its forms, and follow on from the highly successful 'Ngāi Tipu Taketake - Indigenous Flora' exhibition held in 2018. The show will run from 12-22 May at Space Gallery, Whanganui.

MAMAKAN
Slægtskab
2021

Multi-sensory media: video, fragrance, cocktail, bark and mussel shell. (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch)

Kauri (Agathis australis) is among the world's mightiest trees, growing to over 50m tall, with trunk girths up to 16m, and can live for up to 3,000 years.

Much has been said and written about this indigenous tree of Aotearoa and the current threat of Kauri dieback. Many Kauri forests have been closed to the public and we are learning to keep our distance. This installation brings us up close to New Zealand's forest king.

Slægtskab, a Danish word meaning ancestral relationship and connectedness, is inspired by a Māori legend called 'The Whale and the Kauri'.

This legend tells us that the Tohorā (Whale) once walked on land and was a brother to the Kauri tree. In ancient lore the two giants among living things were made at the same time by Tāne and had a special closeness. The Whale, it is said, even gave its skin to his little brother the Kauri as a final act of friendship before leaving the land to live in the sea.

The video installation begins with Kauri seeds sitting on the ocean shore talking to their brother the Whale. The seeds, together in the female cone, then slowly bring the droplets of the mighty ocean back into the deep forest. At the end of the work, the tree moves with the ocean droplets high up into the mountains as a reminder to us - the people - of the sacred connectedness with each other and all life forms.

Fragrance is created from jojoba oil infused with Kauri resin. This scent is unique to the Kauri tree, and is described as ethereal-piney—extremely delicate and light in a way that seems not to be of this world. Apply the fragrance to the top of the hand or below the wrist.

Kauri cocktails refer to the taste aspect of the multi-sensory artwork. The cocktail is made from a wild ferment infusion made from Kauri cones, a light syrup and the yeast from air around the artist's studio in the forest of the Waitakere ranges. The infusion can be drunk on its own or added to ice and soda water (or champagne) added to create a cocktail celebrating the wisdom and longevity of Kauri.

For touch, Kauri bark is placed together with mussel shells for a sensory immersion into a connection between the forest and the sea. This element of the installation refers to the story of Whale giving its skin to the Kauri.