He Kai kei aku ringa Woodblock Print (Unframed)

This wood block print is printed in our studio in Ōtautahi.

He kai kei aku ringa - literally translates to mean 'there is food in my hands'

My whakaaro for this print have spun around domestic activism. Tino rangatiratanga, in urban, banal, unsung expression. Not the kind you always find at a hīkoi or emblazoned on a tshirt, but those ahi kā - those who keep the home fires burning, the tamariki tended to, the māra (garden) sustained, the table laid and the tea towel busy.

The upturned fist is a universal symbol of resistance, sometimes defiance- an assertion of self determination and a need to rise up. 
In the illustrated fist, is a kumara plant- fresh from the whenua. A resilience and reclamation of tūpuna knowlege (ancestral) to sustain ourselves, our tinana (bodies), our families and our hauora. A return to old knowledge and ways, to local ecologies and connection to kai and whenua. Of hands in soil and working together. A slowing down, sharing of knowledge and collective awakening.

My vision was to hang this print in our kihini- our kitchen. Where in small everyday acts, we resist, we nurture and we nourish. A remembering of the importance of the everyday unseen mahi that empowers.

Toi that affirms and uplifts and resists and is awake and empowered. In our small acts we shape the world.

This print is an a5 size and is printed onto an a4 page and is available on either 

Cream printing paper or Harakeke Paper made in Waitaha.

As this taonga is hand made it includes beautiful variations and 'imperfections' that remind us of the maker- they are now a flaw. Part of the whakaaro behind this print is embodied in the process of printing each piece.

Hanging suggestions:

We have photographed a couple of ways you could present these prints.

With the Creamy print making paper we opted for a 20x25 cm frame similar to this one,
For those looking to gift this, we have found that Spotlight, Kmart & Briscoes carry reasonable quality options with either glass or acrylic.

For the Harakeke Paper print we highly recommend a floating mount in a 'shadow box' style frame. We have found this one at Spotlight to be the best value/quality option without customising. We include materials required for a floating mount (and will add a video soon) for how to achieve this. We found that it is important to get the a4 size to best show off the harakeke paper.

Other options also include wooden magnet hangers.

In this listing you are purchasing an UNFRAMED print. We do not offer a ready-framed option .