The artwork, (Pū)oro, consists of 248 pūtangitangi; small round instruments made by hand with natural clay and pigments.Traditionally pūtangitangi (or ukutangi, būdagidagi) were made by wāhine, often for use as part of tangihanga to help to bring on the crying and wailing for the dead, as well as to both mimic and contain the emotions of tangi. After holding and helping, these pūtangitangi could be broken down into dirt to return to the whenua from whence they came. Over time, pūtangitangi have become an empowering taonga for many starting on their journeys with taonga pūoro, and te ao Māori. They are one of our easiest blown taonga to play, can be made easily from a natural resource without tools, and they help us to release our emotions.

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After it has remained in state and used as a performance object, (Pū)oro will be separated into it’s 248 parts with each pūtangitangi being exchanged for pūtea to contribute to the creation of a pukapuka from my doctoral research into the use of taonga pūoro in hauora; health and wellbeing. In this way, one work of art generates another. Like how soundwaves travel out from the source, so will these pūtangitangi. The oro travelling out around the motu as each pūtangitangi is homed and sounded. 

Each pūtangitangi in the exhibition has an element of living within it, te ora o te oro. For some, a wheku, for others, an eel or mokomoko slithering. They are made to live, they are made for you to tend a relationship with. When you craft your own taonga, remember to feed them your hā, and together, send out your oro. Tangi atu, tangi mai. Pūoro mai, pūoro atu.