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Kavinda Herath/Stuff
Matthew Turnbull has built an 11 metre-long waka which will be a star attraction at this year’s Matariki festival in Queens Park.
While he can’t recreate Te Waka O Rangi, an Invercargill creative has built a huge waka to help teach Southlanders about Matariki.
Standing 3.6 metres high and 11 metres long, Matthew Turnbull’s installation will be a centrepiece at this year’s Matariki @ Queens Park – Te Hikoi o Ngā Whetū.
Perched in the park’s duck pond, layers of light and colour projected onto the waka will bring it to life while an audio story explores the pūrākau of Matariki.
“I’ve enjoyed learning about and diving into Māori culture,” Turnbull said.
He got involved with the festival for the first time last year when he was asked to create an installation of a tuna (eel) projected against the museum building.
No stranger to light shows, Turnbull runs a DJ and lighting and sound equipment hire business.
For projects like these he maps the backdrop before programming animated images and lighting designs to run over it.
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Matthew Turnbull’s projection installation lit up the Southland Museum and Art Gallery building during last year’s Matariki at Queens Park. This year he’s built a Waka as a backdrop.
But building the waka, he said, was outside his comfort zone and not something he had attempted before.
Working off artwork created by graphic designer Bridgette Keil, Turnbull built the waka over 10 days.
It can be easily disassembled for its journey to Queens Park, along with another installation also featuring an audio story.
“I’ve learnt heaps and I enjoyed doing it,” Turnbull said.
Matariki @ Queens Park – Te Hikoi o Ngā Whetū will be on at Queens Park between 5.30pm and 10pm from July 14 to July 18. Southlanders can look forward to light installations, toi and storytelling throughout the park.
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