Motifs, meaning and respect

A motif is a shape or image that an artist repeats. Repeat a shape once and it's decoration. Repeat it with purpose and it can carry a story: a wave for journeys, a seed for growth, a star for guidance.

Motifs with whakapapa

Many motifs in Aotearoa and the Pacific are much more than pretty patterns. Kōwhaiwhai on the rafters of a wharenui, tukutuku panels, tā moko, and the designs on Tongan ngatu and Samoan siapo can connect to ancestors, places, tribal identity and events. They are made by people with the right knowledge, often taught through generations.

Protocols and responsibility

The arts curriculum talks about protocols: agreed ways to treat forms, motifs and materials respectfully. Ask: - Where does this form come from and what does it mean? - Who has the right to make it? - Is it tapu (sacred) or connected to a particular iwi, hapū or family? - Have I asked someone with the knowledge?

A debate worth knowing

From the 1950s the Pākehā painter Gordon Walters made famous abstract paintings based on the koru form, simplified into bold stripes and circles. Some people saw his work as a respectful bridge between cultures. Others, including some Māori artists and writers, argued he had taken a form without asking. Both views are still discussed today, and they show why artists need to think about where their shapes come from.

Making your own motif

Being influenced by an approach (bold contrast, repetition, storytelling through pattern) is how art grows. Designing your own motif shows respect and makes your work more personal.