Ko Ahau Te Whenua

Ko Ahau Te Whenua
Jean Yern
1 July - 12 August 2023

Jean Yern (Mangatangi, Ngāti Tamaoho) presents her installation Ko Ahau Te Whenua that pays homage to her wāhi tapu. Sound recordings from these sites of significance inspire her soundscapes and lush blue video lightscapes. Through this installation, the gallery becomes an immersive environment where visitors can experience the rich wairua of the area. Yern's work also frames the complex issue of climate change in a local context that is grounded in the knowledge of local mana whenua Ngāti Tamaoho. By exploring the changing ecology of sounds, she highlights how climate change affects not only the physical environment but also the cultural and spiritual landscape of the area through sound.

“My vision is that visitors leave Ko Ahau Te Whenua feeling a sense of calm and peace with a strengthened awareness of the value of mātauranga Māori. I see connecting with mana whenua knowledge as a way to tackle local environmental issues, ensuring that the intergenerational relationships of taiao, whenua and tāngata can flourish.” - Jean Yern

“Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Waikato te Awa
Ko Taupiri te Maunga
Ko Ngāti Tamaoho te hapu
Ko Mangatangi te Marae
Ko Jean tāku ingoa
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa”

- Jean Rangiwhakakī Yern (Mangatangi, Ngāti Tamaoho, Waikato, and Tainui)

Jean Rangiwhakakī Yern is a passionate kaitoi (Māori artist) seeking greater social and cultural visibility for Māori culture and art. Jean Yern works across the mediums of rāranga, printmaking, music and performance responding to themes of urbanisation, identity, and cultural transformations.

Jean sees Toi Māori (Māori Art) as a bridge, connecting an individual’s sense of belonging and identity to the whenua, awa, and community. Understanding tangata whenua is important and gaining knowledge in Te Ao Māori (Māori worldview) creates connections across cultures.

Jean is married to Kieran who is a chicken farmer in Mangatangi, and she has two daughters (Olive 8yrs), and Riley (16 months).

Image: Jean Yern, Maunga kohukohunui, 2023