Case Study: Matariki Projection Mapping at Otago Museum

Matariki serves as a time of remembrance and celebration as it ushers in the beginning of the Māori new year. Throughout June and July, the Matariki star cluster appears in the morning skies of Aotearoa, containing hundreds of stars yet only nine are visible to the naked eye - each of these stars are significant and tell a distinct story. Within Māori culture, astronomy is interwoven into all facets of life and connects the stars to whenua (land), moana (ocean), lakes and awa (rivers).

Historically, Matariki celebrations created an opportunity for whānau (family) to gather together in remembrance of their tūpuna (ancestors) and celebrate the previous year with kai (food), kōrero (conversation), and ceremonial entertainment. It also served as an opportunity to share knowledge. Today within Aotearoa, Matariki is an opportunity to celebrate where we live. Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and respect for the land that we are caretakers of remain central themes that are interwoven into Matariki celebrations, acknowledging the importance of looking after our rich and beautiful land so that it can be enjoyed by future generations. 

Early in 2021 we were approached by the Otago Museum who wanted to host their first larger scale celebration of Matariki and mark the event through a dawn ceremony that featured projections of the Matariki constellation on to the Otago Museum. We were excited to hear more and help them bring their ideas to life! 

Our team worked with Otago Museum Interactive Media Developer Andrew Charlton and Full Dome Producer Oana Jones to create a dynamic and interactive projection piece with some serious WOW factor. We used two of our new Panasonic RQ22K laser projectors to project onto a huge south facing wall of the Otago Museum (measuring approx 40m wide and 10m tall). 

The 6am Sunday morning ceremony saw a delighted crowd of over 200 people brave the frosty Dunedin morning and included a karakia (prayer), a whakamaumahara (memorial) for those who have passed on in the last twelve months, a performance by He Waka Kōtuia kapa haka group, and a delicious breakfast after the formalities. 

Congratulations to the Otago Museum for hosting this beautiful celebration - We were honoured to be a part of it and are already looking forward to next year.