Jessica Thompson Carr (Ngāpuhi and Ngati Ruanui) explores and represents her whakapapa Māori through poetry, fiction, drawing, photography, and painting. She defines herself as a Māori Mermaid, a magical being of two worlds. Jessica is working as a full-time artist in Ōtepoti. She achieved her degree in English and Art History in 2017 and completed her Masters Coursework, whilst working on her internship with Toi Māori in Ōtautahi at the Court Theatre in 2019. Jessica is learning te reo and enjoys incorporating as much of her whakapapa and identity into her work as possible.
Rangatahi Māori creatives and social media influencers discuss the darker aspects of social media, cultural appropriation and cancel culture.
New Zealand Festival of the Arts event Talanoa Mau was supposed to be an inclusive and safe space for critical exploration. Did it meet those expectations?