Abigail Aroha Jensen is a multi disciplinary artist, using their work as a form of research into self and environment to explore what decolonisation is in modern Aotearoa. Aroha treats their practice as simple as a question - an exploration beyond words. Often becoming a transactional process of '“info in, content out”. Surrounding the question of origin, question of thought itself, and a question as to how we gain knowledge. Continuously asking - how do we decolonise as urban maori/tau iwi and allow ourselves space for cultural relativity, competency and individuality in a land multi-cultural identity?
“For the Harunga project I would like to create a black and white work, with the possibility of red to reflect tino rangatiratanga first and foremost. The imagery should loosely relate to all walks of life as it would flow between abstract and figurative forms. This work will represent a web of motifs, and expressions of multicultural Aotearoa that celebrates our unique cityscape. To keep Mana whenua in mind, there will be fluid markings that pay homage to those who stepped before us and those who are to come. I have a rather intuitive process that’s influenced from research and knowledge gained around the kaupapa of each project I work on, I have attached Imagery to help visualise how this concept could materialise.”
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigailarohajensen/
All photos by Laura Forest.
