Ngā Atua Painted Paper Masks
Lizzie’s class joined me in the art room today to learn about Ngā Atua, the Māori gods and godesses. We watched a video of the Māori creation myth where the students were introduced to Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother, and Ranginui, the Sky Father. In they beginning they were joined together in a loving embrace but their children decided to separate them to allow light to come into the world. Their children became the gods of the natural world.
The aim of today’s lesson was to create a mask that showed the personality and attributes of a Māori god using colour and papercraft techniques. The students chose one of the gods from the creation story that interested them. They created painted paper in a colour scheme that reflected the natural environment that the god was in charge of. The students dabbed sponges and swirled paintbrushes to create layers of texture on their paper.
While the painted paper was drying the students created plans for their masks. We looked at Greek theatre masks for inspiration on how to create facial expressions. The students drew sketches and then began cutting their painted paper to make the masks.
The students did a fantastic job of creating their masks. It was challenging at times but they worked well to solve problems and create a mask that represented their chosen god. I would have loved to have displayed them altogether in the school somewhere, the artworks looked stunning all lined up next to each other in the art room. However as it was the students last art lesson of the year they got to take their artworks home immediately. I’m sure the artworks look beautiful hanging on the wall at home.
