Creative Practice and Identity: An exploration of the creative identity of Maori and Pacific female creative practitioners

Tui Moana Matelau (Ngapuhi, Ngatikahi ki Whangaroa), Auckland University of Technology

As a lecturer who works in foundation and bridging education, I see the way that identity impacts on students’ ability to flourish in the tertiary education system. Tertiary institutions attempt to enhance the success of priority groups such as Maori and Pacific students. 

According to the Centre of Research Excellence Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, ‘within two decades two out of five New Zealand children will be Māori or Pasifika and they will play a significant role in shaping 21st century New Zealand and beyond’ (Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga, 2016). Therefore, gaining a better understanding of a changing Māori and Pacific identity (Ross, 2014; Matelau, 2013; Houkamau, 2010) is becoming more important for NZ society.

Emerging identities are often evident in the creative work of artists before they are articulated within the community. Artists explore and represent moments of conflict or uncertainty in their work and by doing so they begin to understand these moments better and make them tangible for the community (Negus & Pickering, 2004). As a result, the intersection of creative practice and identity provides an important touchstone for the emergent identity of individual, community and society. However research into the identities that artists produce, represent and reflect has not been conducted. My proposed research project attempts to fill this research gap.

By examining the intersection of creativity and identity, emerging identities will become visible. If we, as education providers, can understand these emerging identities better than we can help to foster positive identities in our learners, enabling them to flourish.