Mother Tongue
Kirsten Lyttle,
Series tile: Tangata Whenua/Not Tangata Whenua (2018),
In Te Reo Māori (the Māori language), tangata whenua, describes the local indigenous people born of the land (of the placenta of the land). My ancestral homeland, where I am tangata whenua, is Aotearoa (New Zealand). As a Māori-Australian artist I am part of a diaspora; separated from the land of my ancestors by ocean.
The traditional custodians of the land on which I live are the Wurundjeri people of the greater Kulin Nation. I live, work and make beside Merri Creek in Northcote, a site of significance for the Wurundjeri.
This series of handwoven and photographic prints attempts to respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri people, the beauty of this place, and the knowledge that I am not tangata whenua here.
This series has been shown as part of Native Hands, presented by Blak Dot Gallery, Melbourne Art Fair 2018 and Octopus 18: Mother Tongue (curated by Kimberley Moulton), Gertrude Contemporary, 2018.
Merri Creek Taniwha (2018) Medium: Digital Print on Kodak Premium Lustre Paper Dimensions 101.7cm x 81.28cm (framed) Edition 1 of 5
Merri Creek is not my awa (2018) Medium: Digital Print on Kodak Premium Lustre Paper Dimensions 101.7cm x 81.28cm (framed) Edition 1 of 5
I am not tangata whenua here (2018) Medium: Handwoven Digital Print on Kodak Premium Lustre Paper Dimensions 101.7cm x 81.28cm (framed) Edition 1 of 1
Installation view of Octopus 18: Mother Tongue, curated by Kimberley Moulton, Gertrude Contemporary, Preston, work (from left to right) by Lisa Hilli and Kirsten Lyttle. Photo: Christo Crocker. 2018.
Installation view of Octopus 18: Mother Tongue, curated by Kimberley Moulton, Gertrude Contemporary, Preston, work by Kirsten Lyttle. Photo: Christo Crocker. 2018.
Installation view of Octopus 18: Mother Tongue, curated by Kimberley Moulton, Gertrude Contemporary, Preston, work (from left to right) by Lisa Hilli, Kirsten Lyttle and Vicki Couzens. Photo: Christo Crocker. 2018.