What was the initial spark for the Tukanga TV series? I’ve always been interested in artistic process — how things are made, why that makes them different from others, the ideas that shape them. Within te ao Māori everything has a whakapapa back to the beginning of time — essentially it’s an application of that model. Mai i Te Kore, ki Te Pō, ki Te Ao Mārama — from The Void, to The Night, to The World of Light.
To hear what the whakapapa of their work is, those philosophical foundations and cultural stories within them, and to see how they express that through the various mediums of Māori contemporary art and culture — that’s what makes Māori art and culture so rich.
The word tukanga speaks to process. What does that mean to you in this context? I wanted to reveal some of the thought processes that go into the creation of toi Māori and cultural performances — to show the nuance, the origin of a movement or sound, and the story that carried it through time. Most of these tukanga are of ancient origin, and these practitioners are essentially guardians, keeping those traditions alive and creating new worlds that move with the times. Tukanga is process, but the process is often a portal into the Māori worldview.
How did you decide whose stories to include, and what connects their practices? The goal was to capture a range of cultural expression, to open up perspectives to the depth, diversity and immense value of Māori arts and cultural practices — both traditional and contemporary. They all represent the values and principles of te ao Māori that we aspire to instil in each generation. They’re bold and brilliant. They’re committed to their toi, to their tukanga as their way of life, and that in itself is fascinating to me. These are all expressions of a culture that has survived attempted annihilation and annexation. Māori artists have played a vital role in the regeneration and growth of Māori culture and continue to do so today.
They all hold a shared vision for te ao Māori to thrive and are proactive about their values. If tukanga sets them apart, tikanga/custom and mātāpono/principles are what connect them.
The series is conducted entirely in Te Reo. How did language shape the kōrero? This is the most important thing to me. I’m really proud of all the artists who took up the challenge to articulate their processes in Te Reo. Being on camera is hard enough, let alone expressing innovative and artistic ideas in te reo Māori.
While there has been a huge growth in Te Reo speakers and positive attitudes towards the language, it’s not yet normalised across
all areas of Māori society. One way I try to contribute to that is by creating fluent Te Reo content so we can be immersed in it. Now we have a new toi Māori series that doubles as a Te Reo resource, and I’m really proud of what we achieved.
The artists worked with Te Reo champion Hēmi Kelly, who helped them prepare and identify particular words related to their methods through one-on-one sessions. This was one way I wanted to support them, and I’m sure it will inspire others.
Who did you work alongside to bring Tukanga to life, and how did those relationships influence the project? I was lucky to have Seb Charles as director of photography. His keen eye for composition and high-quality sequences really set the tone for the series.
Nikau Hindin, who featured as an artist and acted as assistant director, supported the production from ideation to completion — from being a sounding board for ideas to helping on set and ensuring the tukanga we captured were reflected accurately in the edit. Her contribution was immense.
Julie Zhu filmed our final episode with Hone Bailey in Hawai‘i, and I’m grateful she was part of the project — not only as an extraordinary filmmaker but as a tangata Tiriti ally who strongly supports kaupapa Māori.
What did you discover through making the series, and what continues to inspire you as a filmmaker within te ao Māori? We are a culture of storytellers. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to help artists articulate their stories in Te Reo and to be able to add my own touch to it. The artists inspire me, and I look forward to making another season in the future.
What do you hope people carry with them after watching? I’d like Māori artists to be inspired by their peers. I hope it helps non-Māori expand their perspectives towards my people and our culture in a positive light.
I want the art world to see the range we possess, and I want our kids and mokopuna/grandchildren to grow up with everything they deserve — their culture, their art, their artists, their stories, their language.
We all have different processes in our work and in our daily lives. Our success, whether as artists, as a cultural group or as a community, depends on how well we maintain, adapt and execute those. Tukanga is now streaming on Māori+ TV.
Interview Alice Lines
Photography Seb Charles, Sara Orme, Reia Creative, Julie Zhu
The post Filmmaker Te Kuru Dewes introduces Tukanga — a new series, and a way of seeing Māori creativity through its making appeared first on homestyle magazine.
