When things slow down, new ideas form and new ways of connecting and creating emerge.  This was the case with the newly released online video Kanohi ki te Kanohi : The Living Portrait featuring portrait artists from Aotearoa and across the Pacific. 

Beginning as just an idea during the 2020 lockdown in NZ, this video, through the support of the Creative NZ Arts Continuity Grant, began to take shape and grow.

The statement, 'Kanohi ki te Kanohi' in Te Reo Māori is literally translated as 'Face to Face' in English.   From a Māori perspective, is through face to face interaction and being in the same space physically as someone else, you get the true, full experience of human interaction.  The title of this work 'Kanohi ki te Kanohi' adds to the juxstoposition and contradiction of this statement, because although the artists are featured 'face to face' in the video, they have never actually been physically present, in each others space, while working on this project.  This piece of work also seeks to explore the different ways of viewing portraiture from an indigenous gaze.   From the connection that usually happens through portraiture, between the sitter and the artist, the portrait as having a mauri or life force and the intricacies of digital technology and how this is continuously challenging our norms and pushing us into spaces that are different, uncomfortable or were we have to make compromises. 

On release of the video, one of the artists, Michelle Estall writes on a facebook post...   "Seems timely that this video went live on youtube this afternoon as Aotearoa goes in to its second nationwide lockdown.  Kanohi ki te Kanohi is a beautiful video project that I am so grateful to be a part of."

Project Director and Producer of the Kanohi ki te Kanohi video, Regan Balzer,  reflects on the project;  "The original intention of this work was to showcase painting by Māori and Pasifika Portrait artists, but actually became alot more.  For me it has become a symbol of how situations (such as lockdown) can make us stronger, through connectivity, creativity and determination we can overcome obstacles that come our way." 

The Kanohi ki te Kanohi project, engaged the skills of Māori and Pasifika (early, mid and late career) portrait artists from across Aotearoa, to as far as Tahiti, Rarotonga, Australia, Tonga & Hawaii, including: Taniela Petelo (Tonga), Regan Balzer (Aotearoa), Rangimoana B Morgan (Aotearoa), Kauanoe Chang (Hawaii), John Walsh (Aotearoa), Michelle Estall (Aotearoa), Vaihere, Vaivai (Tahiti), Tanya Leef (Aotearoa), Shane Tuaeu Andrew (Cook Islands), James Ormsby (Aotearoa), Turumakina Duley (Aotearoa - living in Australia).

 Working on this project didn't come without its own challenges.  Artists were tasked with recording themselves while they worked in their own studios.  The portrait they were directed to paint was specifically selected for each artist.  Artists were confronted with working in new ways, with video and new technology, as well as dealing with environmental challenges of weather, limited internet connection and workspace, through to health issues, emotions and losses in the family.  All these artists pushed through the difficulties that came their way to produce their painting and videos.      

After each painting was completed and the footage sent to be edited, the next phase of editing hours of video begun.   

The same week the Kanohi ki te Kanohi video was recieving its final edits, a very sad message came from Hawaii that one of the key artists, Kauanoelehua Chang, had passed away.   

As a senior watercolourist in Hawaii, Kauanoe is well known for her beautiful work.  She was also noted as a darling and was as sweet and beautiful as the Hawaiian flower she was named after.   Her strength, determination and love of life had her win through many battles with cancer over the years.   As an attendee at the Pūhoro o mua, Pūhoro ki tua: Indigenous Artsts Gathering at Tūrangawaewae Marae, Ngāruawāhia in 2019, Kauanoe emanated positivity and appreciation of all things.  Many of the gathering participants fell in love with Kauanoe, fondly calling her 'aunty'.    During painting for the Kanohi ki te Kanohi project, Kauanoe had begun a new fight and treatment regime.   In the midst of Lockdown in Hawaii and a particularily hard time during her treatment, she found painting for this project gave her something to focus on and look forward to each day, which helped her through some really hard times.   Her completed work for this video is testiment to a woman who truely worked through adversity.  The fact that she made such a huge committment to this project and how special it is to feature her portrait and work, the video has been dedicated to Kauanoe.   

So, as with many projects, it is quite a journey to the finish line.  However in the footsteps of our great leaders, who have paved the way forward, we continue to try new things and strive forward by continuing to bring artists and creativity together.    Creating in turn, many more possibilities of new beginnings and affirming the power to connect through creativity, especially in this new digital age.   

The Kanohi ki te Kanohi : The Living Portrait video can be viewed at this YouTube link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfyb5StT2ko