Mythology | Maaori
Photo manipulation & digital painting (No AI)
Hinemoana
Maaori ocean goddess & mother of all marine life
The layers of ocean depths & the diversity of marine life
Ko te wai te ora ngaa mea katoa
Water is the life giver of all things
The Story
Hinemoana is the Maaori personification of the feminine ocean spirit, with whom the ancient Polynesian voyagers were deeply connected. According to Maaori, living in harmony with the ocean allowed the culture to prosper & discover deep valuable knowledge about the pacific ecosystems. As sea levels rise restoring a harmonious relationship with the ocean is vital. The wisdom preserved by cultures who have maintained such a relationship for centuries if not millennia is therefore extremely valuable. Especially if it is fused with scientific research. This is precisely what the Indigenous-led initiatives ‘Hinemoana Halo’ and the ‘Pacific Whale Fund’ were created to do - merge ancient wisdom & modern science to restore marine ecosystems. My experience working as a designer for the remarkable ocean warriors behind these projects inspired me to create this print.
My Thoughts & Feelings
This was my first project exploring the Maaori visual language & a modern approach to the traditional art of taamoko. I wanted to explore using digital art methods to craft a personification of Hinemoana & imagine what designs may align with her essence & personified body. It felt surreal to access a visual language that felt deeply aligned with my intuition. It was freeing & gave me a sense that my own ideas were blending with knowledge from & a connection to my ancestral heritage. This has inspired me to continue exploring the interplay of ancient and futuristic perspectives as well as the fusing of my multi-cultural lineages.
Symbols
Moko Kauae
Hinemoana brings marine life to & from this world through her manawa line. For this reason, the lower curves are inspired by the long & bowed shape of whale skulls that represent the life & death of marine life. The megafauna are a key representation & essential part of the marine ecosystem. They also symbolise the connection Maaori have to Hinemoana's domain. Whales are particularly sacred to Maaori, as they are our direct ancestors & have shared close bonds with us over generations. The jaw also represents balance, due to its anatomical purpose & symmetry to the pelvis with which it is jointly responsible for allowing us to move in the right direction.
The upper curves symbolise Hinemoana's duty & power within her domain through the shape of fish hooks. These are pulling up the lower curves, similar to how Maaui fished up Te-Ika-a-Maaui, however, in this context it captures both the tragedy of overfishing marine animals as well as the symbolic action of finally pulling these creatures up to the honour they deserve.
The upper korus represent the eldest & the lower korus represent the youngest, symbolising that water is both the oldest & youngest.
The full shape of this moko kauae is an inverted trident, symbolising the feminine ocean guardian.
Moko (Chest)
A Manta Ray has been depicted on her chest as a symbol of leading with the heart through grace, empathy & patience.
Moko (Thigh)
The upper ta moko on her thigh describes the nature of her leadership as a mother.
Her motherhood is depicted as a koiri protected by puhoro riding a fast wave, as a symbol of the agility, attentiveness & intuition of mothers. The fast wave symbolises the change that must come quickly to proliferate biodiversity & that Hinemoana's ability to do so must be protected through flexibility, care & intent.
The front of the wave is inspired by gills to symbolise the importance of focusing on the breath when moving at speed, as well as it being essential to the process of spiritual transformation.
The overall layout of the taamoko is in the shape of a long feminine fin swimming down into the depths, symbolising a willingness to face the dark of introspection so we can remember who we are and transform this into the new future we desire.
Photography credits
In same order as gallery below
All are from Adobe Stock
