"Meaning: origin, beginning, creation -This design symbolises the separation and creation of our earth within Māori storytelling. Papatūānuku, she is the land, the birthplace of all things, and Mother Earth. Ranginui, he is the heavens, the Sky, and Father. They were once tightly embraced causing the world to be to cloaked in darkness; but later separated by one of their sons and the light was able to come through. Many of our tikanga practices we hold dear relate back to the respect and kaitiaki values towards our world."
Neat is a born and raised local of The Bay of Islands. For her, art and design has always been a focal point of her life and she is now enjoying expressing this creative side of herself by paying homage to her home through cultural, flora, & fauna designs. “I had this one-of-a-kind art teacher in high school who let me draw first then think later; we’d discuss things from refining techniques to the mundane of what we were eating for lunch, but found creative inspiration in any subject and discussion. I attribute much of my artistic progression to her.” Most days Neat is found out in the Bay working as a deckhand, finding inspiration by being on and in the water, as well as listening to the calls of birdsong over the islands. She also volunteers for the Bay of Island Coast Guard responding to call outs.
Instagram: @144.media
email: ar.bayofislands@gmail.com
