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Date : September 10, 2010 Valid until : March 18, 2007 |
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Mauri Ora : Maori Treasures from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Maori Designs |
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Orientation Room, Heiseikan
Tuesday, January 23 - Sunday, March 18, 2007
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Hei tiki (neck pendant in human form)
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1,000 years ago, the Maori first crossed the ocean to the islands of Aotearoa, the Maori word for New Zealand. Believing that gods exist in every being, they developed various insights in the shapes of plants and animals. They created symbols from the shapes which they incorporated into their art, a tradition that is still passed on today.
Maori designs can be seen on support posts or panels of traditional buildings, such as the pataka, where food and important items are stored, and decorative accessories, tools, textiles, and weapons. This display "Maori Designs" is designed to help the understanding of the meaning of the symbols, such as the spirals engraved on pillars, canoe prows, and the open-eyed human figures with tilted heads (tiki).
Learn about the meanings of Maori designs to feel and understand the expressions, narratives and the stories of the Maori and their ancestors. |
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Suggestion Box | 
