Alexander Sarsfield

This project arose through a conscious effort to bridge my time spent divided between Māori and Australian cultures. I welcomed exposure, inviting any and every question. Ancestral traumas, my opinions on death, and what were traditionally used instead of bobby-pins, were all on the table. In episodes of co-creating, I found renewed opportunities for cultural continuation, cultural sharing, and cultural belonging within an urban Australian culture.

The exchanges presented, extend beyond a mere conversation. Each iteration of making is a tangible acknowledgment of my whakapapa. A navigation of living a Māori identity where most of my connections cannot pronounce my ethnicity. In orchestrating my own vulnerability, I seek to bridge this dual identity and build of community. With a reciprocated sharing of experiences and mutual decision-making, the other person’s input shapes my outcome. These belongings hold these interactions.