Artwork Information

‘Ata’ in te reo Māori references ideas relating to reflection, form, light and shadow. Robert Jahnke’s Ata explores Māori creation narratives and prophetic imagery through light and reflection.

Ata Turarua represents a stunning departure from his text heavy, black and white works. Here, coloured neon and mirrored reflection is explored in relation to the Māori creation narrative of Te Kore (The Great Nothingness), Te Pō (The Great Darkness) and Te Ao Mārama (The World of Light and Life). For Māori these are timeless narratives that discuss and locate our place in the world, in the order of things. Robert Jahnke reflects on whakapapa (genealogy) as the ultimate Māori system of order whilst also echoing the Māori philosophical concept of continuous time and like the mirrored reflections they present infinite possibilities.