Why art, why now? | He aha i whāia ai ngā toi ināianei?
Imagine lockdown without art.
Whakaarohia te noho tara ā-whare kāore nei he toi.
“In art we find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
— Pene Pati, opera singer, Sol3mio
Art is an essential service in our homes and on our screens.
He ratonga matua te toi i roto i ō tātou kāinga i runga anō i ā tātou mata.
Art connects us
Even in a time of isolation and uncertainty, artists are finding ways to keep people connected. We can laugh at a performer’s funny video, like a poet’s Instagram post, share our stories with friends and family. Together we’re doing the Family Lockdown Boogie, singing waiata, enjoying livestreams from our favourite musicians, and heading out for Bear Hunts around our neighbourhoods (inspired by a book).
Art is important for our wellbeing. By engaging in the arts we can keep connected, give, learn, take notice and stay active – all ways that we can look after our mental health and wellbeing. New Zealanders are dancing, reading, laughing, learning and sharing what inspires us: we are being brought together by art.
Every time we pick up a book, listen to music, look at a painting, dance, sing, stream a show, or make craft projects with the kids, we are engaging with art. Let’s show our thanks!
“Imagine how shit life would be without it”
Mā te toi tātou e tūhonohono ai
Ahakoa tēnei wā noho taratahi, pāhekeheke hoki, ka wātea tonu tātou ki te katakata i te ataata hātakēhi a tētahi kaiwhakangahau, pēnei i te pōhi Paeāhua a tētahi kaitito ruri, mā tātou anō e toha ā tātou kōrero ki ngā hoa me te whānau. Kei te mahi tahi tātou i te Family Lockdown Boogie, kei te waiata, kei te ngahau i ngā pāhotanga mataora a ō tātou tino kaiwaiata, ā, kei te puta anō ki te kimi tetipea i ō tātou hapori (he mea whakaaweawe nā tētahi pukapuka).
He wāhi nui tō te toi ki te hauora o te tangata. Mā te wahi wāhi ki ngā toi e hono tonu ai tātou ki a tātou, e hoatu ai, e ako ai, e kite ai, e korikori ai hoki tātou – he ara ēnei e tiaki ai tātou i ō tātou oranga ā-hinengo. E kanikani ana, e pānui ana, e katakata ana, e ako ana, e tohatoha ana hoki tātou o Aotearoa i ngā mea e ihiihi ai tātou, ā, kua riro mā te toi tātou e whakakotahi.
Ka tango ana koe i tētahi pukapuka, ka whakarongo ana ki ngā puoro, ka titiro ana ki tētahi peita, ka kanikani ana, ka waiata ana, ka mātaki i tētahi hōtaka, ka waihanga ana rānei i tētahi mahinga toi i te taha o ngā tamariki, e hāpai ana tātou i ngā toi.
