Opening Sacred Realms – Karanga
Jeanine Clarkin, a fashion designer from Aotearoa, whose art practice is based around the relationship between the blanket and Māori society during colonisation and in the contemporary sense. Jeanine’s session will provoke thoughts and ideas about culture through her textile narratives, activism, community work and curation.Jeanine will share the symbolism of the blankets she uses in her designs as they relate to the colonisation of Aotearoa, New Zealand by the British Crown.
The blankets were used for trade and a link is made here to other things that have been traded here including western ideas of the role of women which sit in stark contrast to Mana Wahine o te Ao Māori. Jeanine’s designs are inspired by Matauranga Maori (Maori Knoweledge) and her interest in the decorative arts. A leader within her own right, Jeanine will share her optimal environment of nature and scenery that provides her with a great selection of flora and fauna from which to draw inspiration from – the colours, silhouette and feel. A self confessed fashion activist. Jeanine uses the social temperature of the times to often guide some of the pieces in her collections.