Title

Hongi - The breath of life

Location

Whangarei, New Zeland

Category
2019

I painted this mural for Street Print Manaia Festival.

HONGI is the traditional Māori greeting in New Zealand. It is done by pressing one’s nose and forehead (at the same time) to another person at an encounter.

During the hongi, the “ha”, or breath of life is exchanged and intermingled.
The breath of life is also considered the sharing of both parties’ souls.

Through the exchange of this physical greeting, one is no longer considered “manuhiri” visitor, but rather “tangata whenua, one of the people of the land.