James Ormsby: Psaltearoa

"Psaltearoa" is a syncretic combination - a compound of Psalter (Illuminated Manuscript), and Aotearoa (New Zealand). Psaltearoa are drawn indigenous forms of knowledge, embedded as a matrix across a coded surface.

The text is currently sourced from the Bible in both English and te reo (Maori). The unique digital font - with format virus, renders the words almost illegible, enhancing the doctrine with endowed hermeneutic cipher. It is an art-led-research and developing body of drawings, large and small.

My Psaltearoa drawings reference the famous English "Ormesby Psalter", commissioned by Robert Ormesby, a 13th century monk. It is thus a continuation of whakapapa (history) into New Zealand from England. This Psaltearoa project is adaptation from north to south, appropriation from ancestor to mokopuna (children), relevant thus authentic to an engaging community.

It is a unique collaboration between ancestor-father-son..."Hapaiti nga mahi a o tupuna! He aha te take? Na tem ea, he taonga mapuna tenei mai I o matou tupuna!" (Raise up the works of your ancestors! What is the reason for this? Because this is a precious gift from our ancestors!)

Event listed by Deborah White

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