Māreikura at Immigration Museum
Tāmoko (the Māori art of tattooing) is an important practice dating back hundreds of years. In a new exhibition at the Immigration Museum, moko kauae (Māori chin tattoos traditionally worn by women) take centre-stage, with 15 striking photographic portraits of Māori women living in Naarm/Melbourne, who uphold the important healing cultural practice in a contemporary setting.
Māreikura – Ka rere te rongoā | the medicine flows is the creation of Indigenous storyteller Irihipeti Waretini. The exhibition explores traditional Māori ideas of the sacred, depicting cultural customs and knowledge systems. Anchored by a carved pou (pillar), Māreikura also features multimedia, performance art, photography, film and soundscapes.
Part of Museums Victoria’s Culture Makers program, the exhibition delves into the impacts of colonial structures on Indigenous spirituality and the sacred feminine over the years. At its core, Māreikura is a reminder of the power Indigenous matriarchs and wāhine Māori (Maori women) hold for the wellbeing of culture, community and land.
Māreikura is open now and runs until February 23. Entry is included with general admission to the Immigration Museum. Find out more and book your tickets at museumsvictoria.com.au.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Museums Victoria.