Meet Isaac Te Awa
Isaac started weaving in his teens then reignited his passion for taaniko and kākahu when he joined HSOMA from Australia 4 years ago.
Lillian Hetet-Owen talked with Isaac from Te Papa where he works as a museum curator - Mātauranga Māori.
In this candid and insightful interview, Isaac shares
- what it's like to weave a korowai from muka
- how he overcame the challenges of kākahu weaving
- how being a weaver helps him in is his role as Curator - Matauranga Māori for Te Papa
Interview questions:
00:10 Where are you from?
01:04 Tell me about your weaving journey so far
03:55 Tell me about the weaving of your first kākahu
05:37 What was your biggest challenge weaving your first korowai muka?
07:43 How did you go from nursing to curating?
15:08 Did weaving your korowai go as planned?
13:54 How much did belonging to a community of weavers help you?
16:56 How did you feel when you finished your korowai?
17:53 Do you have any advice for anyone starting their kākahu journey?
18:35 What's next for you after completing your korowai?
21:54 Have there been any surprises working with taonga in Te Papa?
26:51 What are your thoughts about men weaving?
Pictured: Taaniko Poi woven by Isaac Te Awa
