Archived: Kupesi Sisi Huelo ‘oe Taulanga Waitemata moe Funga Tāmaki Makaurau

Behind the words:

Sisi in the Tongan culture is an important type of garland. It consists of fresh, fragrant tropical flowers of different colours, neatly woven and plaited together in layers with the best (fungani) at the top and greenery at the bottom. Sisi are used to adorn distinguished guests and people of importance; are worn around the neck as a necklace or around the waist.

Kupesi is the Tongan word for patterns. Prominent in several Tongan artforms, kupesi are a form of adornment in themselves. They adorn the canvas of the ngatu (tapa cloth) and lalava (lashings, the technology of binding) and carvings. They tell of tradition, histories, places, and contexts. Ultimately kupesi is a medium that communicates the Tongan world view.

'Kupesi Sisi Huelo ‘oe Taulanga' is both sisi and kupesi: a garland of patterns in light and colour; composed from sounds of the site it adorns. Extracted audio wave spectrum from sounds recorded at the Ports of Auckland, the Waitemata Harbour and Auckland CBD provided the artist with high, medium and low frequencies. 

Generating visual patterns from this raw sonic material, the artist reimagines these spaces through the sense of listening. Then, in adorning them, encourages us to honour what is not easily perceived but provides these sites their inherent quality. 'Kupesi Sisi Huelo ‘oe Taulanga Waitemata moe Funga Tamaki Makaurau' respect the culture, histories and living entities of our harbour and city, gracing, and marking these elements.