Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori – Te Papa
Large scale live illustration
ABOUT
Our National Museum Te Papa Tongarewa took a novel approach to te wiki o te reo Māori.
They highlighted items of significance from their collections and we drew them up on the beautiful, big circular window on the first level so museum visitors could enjoy the unfolding spectacle.
It was a scavenger hunt – people had to find the collection items and won prizes for using Te Reo Māori. It was a tremendous feel-good experience for visitors. ( It is a shame the illustrators were so short… next time we will pack stilts and reach the top of the window too…)
TESTIMONIAL
“Miharo! Tumeke! E mihi ana ki te League of live illustrators! He ringa toi, he tohunga. During Te Wiki o te Reo Maori September 2017 Te Papa invited the League to be a part of our public programme to celebrate our reo here at the museum.
Megan Salole and Stephen Templer created a mural on the big round window in the Wellington Foyer. Inspired by the taonga (treasures) that are in the museum (From traditional Maori taonga through to the colossal Squid). Their playful imagery and use of Maori language was an engaging and fun way for our visitors to learn some new words in Maori.
With over 2000 daily visitors to Te Papa, their work attracted great feedback from visitors and staff, and was a great way to celebrate the Maori language here at the national museum. At the weeks end we were very reluctant to ‘clean’ the window!
Huge thanks to the League of Live Illustrators! E kore e mutu na mihi ki a koutou e hoa ma!”
Ati Teepa. Public Programmes Specialist. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
WHAT WE DID
Large Scale
Drawing big on walls, windows, busstops is our thing too. If it can be drawn on we'll draw on it.
Live In-Person
Created live in the room while the conversations are happening, ideas are flowing and atmosphere is being soaked up.