Material

Pandanus (pandanus tectorious) is one of the most useful plants an important part of Pacific culture and traditions. Different parts of the pandanus plants are utilized to give a varieties of end products throughout the Pacific islands. The trunk and large branches are commonly used for building materials in constructing houses. They can also be used as a source of firewood or used to make compost. Their roots are used in fabrication of house walls and supports, basket handles and paint brushes. They are also used to produce dyes and in production of traditional medicines.

In this project the leaves are the main part of the pandanus that will be used in the lalaga (weaving) process. The leaves of the pandanus are treated by soaking in the sea and boiling or heating and dying and are then used to make baskets, mats, hats, fans, pillows, and canoe sails. It becomes flexible, easy, and malleable to work with. The introduction of modern plastic material has shifted choices to cheap disposable materials which it contributes to carbon emission. In comparison to pandanus its more sustainable and easier to decompose.

The main weaving techniques that will be used in this project will be checker weave also known as plaiting which it is a straightforward technique in which weft crosses over and under one wrap at a time. Using this technique to weave can create the desired mat that this project aimed to make with the community which it is the flat mat.

Readings | Research 

Artist research 

More about Pasifika Festival

Lalaga is a yearly event I would hosted at the Grey lynn Public library. 

The event is corrolated with Pasifika Festival. Lalaga is a collective labour social event it is a time to teach share stories sing songs and pass on the cof weaving. 

The braille staircase handrail helps the blind navigate buildings

http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/4115815/Weaving-in-a-rich-Pacific-tradition

Weaving events 

Fofola e fala kae alea ‘ae kainga (Roll out the mat for kin to dialogue)

Fofola e fala kae alea ‘ae kainga is a Tongan proverb that depicts a safe way for communication to take place. It is a metaphor whose meanings and symbolism are understood by most Tongan and Pacific people. My underlying use of this metaphor is the invitation to Pacific communities in the Grey Lynn area to come together and be seated on the mats to Talanoa (talk) about the lalaga project. The coming together of the Pacific community in the Grey Lynn area will take place in an environment that is safe for them to freely talk about their understanding of lalaga and what it means to them.

Pacific are communal people where they share and do things together compared to a westernized society where they value individualistic. An example of this in a Tongan context of tapa making where there's  group of women who prepares their material and then come together to make tapa for each other in a collective manner.

Blender render | Material 

Process of Lalaga (Weaving)

Kie Making Tonga

Laukaupouli Tongan Class

Preparing pandanus for weaving

Lalaga | Concept

Lalaga is a Samoan term for the act of weaving or plaiting. It is a pattern technique that is used to form goods (baskets, hats, mats, ie toga, thatching for houses). Lalaga is a technique done by women which is equally skilful in the craft of pattern. Pandanus mat is made from fine grade pandanus leaves, dried, scraped, split into strips, baked, separated into layers, soaked in the sea, sun-dried, split into fine threads and finally weaved into a beautiful mat. The technique of lalaga does not only refer to weaving the mat but it includes the many processes executed before the weave.

There are many meaning to the word weave and for this weaving (lalaga) to me personally is the process of interlocking the threads of meaning and thread of VA relations that are active within a community.

Pacific Stories

Grey Lynn is predominantly occupied by New Zealand European white-collared workers. According to Statistic New Zealand the percentage of NZ European residing in Grey Lynn is 80.6% compared to Maori (9.4%) and Pacific (13.5%). With the high percentage of NZ European living in the Grey Lynn area it was important to me as a Samoan Spatial designer to think about how my design concept proposal for the library would have an impact in engaging and getting more Maori and Pacific people to utilize the library more often.

I did a site analysis and started to connect with specifics symbols, pattern, motifs and the locations, which it is relevant to my Pacific history such as Pacific Migration, Pacific labour work force and Dawn Raid. Therefore, I paid close attention to the connections I had with the space.