TE ARA (THE PATH)

District of Leistavia leis

This is a section of the lei used in the exhibition, except the plan was to use a small lei bunched on the wall but what I wound up with was a four metre lei, installed at the top of the wall. Leis really set the scene for hybridity and Leistavia. While most people here associate leis with Polynesia, these leis are remade from imported Chinese ones. They are sold in south Auckland. Leis are used in India as well.

One thing about Leistavian leis is that no two are the same. Patterns are never repeated exactly. I can tell quite easily which leis have been made for which project, by the different arrangement for patterning. The idea that no two lei s would repeat or be the same arises from the 'nonlinearity' theme of my work. Nonlinearity and hybrid culture mingle throughout projects. Right now I'm making some pieces which directly entangle them.