Who or what brings light into your life?

Kereama | Tauranga

Kereama Hoete, aka Mr G, shares how art can inspire and connect rangatahi to their identity.

“He ringa toi ahau. Kei te mōhio au te mana o tēnei mea, o te mahi toi.

Pērā hoki ki tērā whakataukī, iti te tohu, nui te kōrero, nui te mana. Koirā tētahi rautaki pea ki te whakamahinga tēnei mea ko te mahi toi hei whakaakiaki, hei whakatenatena, whakakipakipa ō tātou rangatahi, mā te mahi toi, mā te ātaahuatanga o te mahi toi, mā ngā pūrākau katoa.

Ki a au nei, ko te mea nui o tēnei wā ki Aotearoa nei, ko te tūmanako.

Koirā te ngako o taku mahi, kia kawe, kia whakatairanga tēnei tino taonga, ko te tūmanako. Kia whakapakari ai ngā pakiaka o ō tātou rangatahi, ki ō rātou whenua, ō rātou ake whenua, hei whakapakari ō rātou tuakiritanga.

He aha ai? Hei whakarauora, hei painga mō ō tātou rangatahi huri noa i te motu.”

Translation:

I am an artist. And I understand the power of art. Much like the proverb, “iti te tohu, nui te kōrero, nui te mana” (a small form can have a world of meaning, and great mana). That’s perhaps a strategy – to use this thing called art to encourage, inspire, and urge our youth, through art, through the beauty of art, and through all stories.

For me, the most important thing right now in New Zealand is hope. That’s the gist of my work – to carry, to promote this precious treasure called hope. To strengthen the roots of our youth to their lands, to their own lands, and to strengthen their sense of identity.

Why? To revive art, for the benefit of our youth throughout the country.