Ben Girven is a contemporary art photographer, engaging the camera-less medium of photogrammetry. His whakaahua (photographs/photography) take form on location, with a pulse of light, in whenua, ngahere, awa and moana, embodying maramataka (Māori lunar calendar) as methodology. Girven extends perceptions of wā (space-time), light and energy, exploring relational spaces activated in wānanga, through connection with art, each other, and the world. Te taiao (our environment - ourselves) is creator, camera, and darkroom, blurring distinction between the agents of photographic engagement and affirming whakaahua to be an indigenous medium. He received a Bachelor of Design majoring in Mātauranga Toi Māori and Photography, and recently completed a Master of Fine Arts at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University.
Tiana Krafft-Soffe is a multimedia artist of Tongan (Hihifo), Māori (Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Kuia) and German descent based in Te Whanganui-a-tara. Her creative practice weaves together dance/movement, video, animation, and audio to create multi-layered, time-based artworks. Through her artwork she seeks to activate an energetic awareness in the viewer.
Sylvie is a dance artist living in Te Whanganui-a-tara. She is curious about dance as a process of change, connection, deconstruction, trying, questioning, feeling and being - a way of 'holding on' within dynamic and unstable environments. Sylvie trained at Tarrant Dance Studios, and has danced at workshops in Aotearoa, Salzburg, Vienna, Brussels, West Kerry, London, and Barcelona. She is studying her Masters in Dance Movement Therapy through Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini - My success is not that of an individual, but the strength of the multitude.
Ngā mihi nui to the generosity of many who offered their support, time, knowledge, and dedication to bring Te Ao Raranga to light; Kura Puke, Matt Tini, Shannon Te Ao, Israel Randelll, Mike Bridgeman, Stuart Foster, Pippa Sanderson, lecturers from Massey University, Streamliner, Port Nicholson. Thank you to our whānau for upholding our wellbeing in the process, this project is infused with your care.