Te Korowai a Kahukura is an expansive video installation commissioned for the Herbarium exhibition at Te Ara Ātea, for their 30 metre video wall.

Te Korowai a Kahukura draws on the pūrākau of Kahukura, the atua responsible for clothing Te Waka o Aoraki / the South Island with plant and bird life. According to Ngāi Tahu creation narratives, the wreckage of Aoraki’s waka formed the South Island, and Aoraki and his brothers, sitting atop the upturned waka, formed Aoraki (Mount Cook) and the Southern Alps. Tūterakiwhānoa, Marokura, and Kahukura were sent by Raki, Aoraki’s father, to shape and adorn the land created by the waka and it was Kahukura who created the wetlands, grasses, trees, bush, and plentiful bird life. 

Inspired by the journey of these atua to find Aoraki and his brothers, and their abundant creative powers in adorning the wreckage of Aoraki’s waka, Te Korowai a Kahukura is an expressive and vibrant video-scape, weaving animation, watercolour paintings, and footage from Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere. With this work Louise also honours the plant-life, such as raupō and harakeke, as well as the ika and manu created by Kahukura to clothe Te waka o Aoraki and acknowledges the important restoration work currently taking place at Te Waihora and the surrounding wetlands.

For more information about the Herbarium Exhibition at Te Ara Ātea please see these two links: artnow.nz and Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Te Korowai a Kahukura is now part of the Lincoln University Art Collection