TEDx - Tūrangawaewae
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of TEDx Christchurch, the organisers set out to create a genuinely bi-cultural event that celebrated the connection of people to place. The theme of Tūrangawaewae (the intrinsic relationship between a person and the place they feel most empowered and connected) was chosen by TEDx and STRATEGY Design, in partnership with Ngāi Tūāhuriri as mana whenua. Matapopore Charitable Trust collaborated on the project as cultural partners and commissioned Kaitiaki Studios to create this artwork.
The design is a contemporary version of a tukutuku panel, representing the themes of tūrangawaewae and telling the story of Ōtautahi. Tukutuku was chosen because of the traditional relationship to storytelling and the importance of content, which aligns with TEDx’s mission to share ‘ideas worth spreading’.
The artwork’s forms represent places and concepts that tie back to the overall theme of belonging. Contemporary koru represent Ngā Tangata (our people), while aramoana (waves) represent the bodies of water that sustain our region, and the importance of water to sustainability. Sustainability is also an important element of Tūrangawaewae and encompasses the sustainability of our outer world, our inner world, and our environment.
Purapura whetū (stars) represent our inner sense of Tūrangawaewae, through connection to our individual direction and aspirations. The whetū in this design depict Matariki and, alongside Maukatere (Mt Grey), are a direct reference to Ngāi Tūāhuriri.
The design is formed from individual X’s, referencing the TEDx event, the 10-year anniversary, and the traditional patterns found in tukutuku.
Rather than use the tukutuku design in a standard graphic design system, it was turned into a flag, the international symbol of belonging and a rallying point that connects people to place. The flag doesn’t represent a specific place; instead, it represents the ownership that a place can have over a person, and stands as a symbol of their personal relationship and sense of belonging. The resulting photographs of people standing with the flag at their personal tūrangawaewae became the central point of the TEDx communications.
This project was incredibly rewarding and collaborative, and was made possible because of the coming together of multiple people and organisations. The finished project was the winner of a 2020 Best Design Award, and won two categories at the NZEA annual awards ceremony.