The mural that lifted a gym’s spirits
In May 2020, we moved into our new gym space on Joan Gaskell Drive. It all happened so fast – the gear from our Coghill St gym was moved and the new premises were fitted out. We put a lot of thought into the design and functionality of the gym space, dojo and classrooms, but we overlooked one thing: the bare white walls in the reception area. Three and a half years later, they had to go. They were uninspiring to us in such a key part of our business.
I’m not the best at explaining my thoughts, so when I came up with the idea for a mural in our reception, I wasn’t sure if our preferred local Māori artist, Jason Tahatika, would even understand what I was going for. I wanted the mural to represent my husband and me and our values as Māori business owners, but I also wanted every single one of our members to be able to relate to it in some way. I wanted it to be inclusive, just like our gym. But how could we capture all of that on one wall?
Our gym is about more than just weights and machines. It’s about hauora (well-being) and solace from the outside world – a temporary escape from reality. The reception area acts like a tomokanga (portal) between two worlds. The mural needed to depict that transition between two states of being. It had to be of our atua (Māori deities), personifying us as ira tangata (mortals).
Here is a little of my whakaaro (thoughts) behind some of the atua in the mural. I haven’t included all the kōrero, as I like to leave some interpretations to the viewer and also leave questions hanging for future wānanga (discussion) to be had. I am very grateful that Jason was able to capture my thoughts and bring it to life, but I also love his own artistic interpretations that just fit perfectly and add to what was envisaged. I am not surprised the connection with our atua Māori is inherently strong, as tangata whenua.
You are most welcome to come view the mural during our staffed hours. It’s a mural for all to enjoy, with qualities we all possess – and if you look close enough, you may just see yourself in the reflection.
Mauri ora x
Fighting for Inner Peace
Tūmatauenga – God of War/Mankind
Rongo – God of Peace, Protector of Peace
Two atua are battling it out for the top position in the middle of the mural. They represent the physical and mental struggles we all face when exercising. The benefits of physical activity, such as the release of endorphins, help us obtain inner peace. When we arrive at the gym, we may feel one way, but after a workout, we feel much better, transitioning from one state to another. As humans, we constantly balance these two energies, symbolised by the artist’s impression of the yin/yang pose. It represents the balance between good/bad, happy/sad, and other opposing forces we encounter. Much like our atua, Tū and Rongo.
Keeping the flow
Tangaroa – God of the sea and fish
Rūaumoko – God of earthquakes
Obviously, this being a coastal town, Tangaroa needed to be depicted here somewhere, with his calm blue hues and flowy style. Just like our waters in the bay, he is our atua of flowy thinking too, just like the tides; he can shift. Shifting is essential though, so to not get stuck, stuck in our thoughts, stuck in uncomfortable positions, he can change his situation. A pūrākau of ours talks about Tangaroa and when he flew the coop from Tū-te-Aniwaniwa (house of stuck behaviour) and Huaki Pouri (house of change). I believe the gym can help with stuck behaviour; looking at Tangaroa on the wall each day reminds me to be flowy, just like him.
Rūaumoko is the baby of the lot. He was upset when his parents, Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatūānuku (Earth Mother), were separated. He raged and shook so much that he scarred his mother and created fires across her body. Feeling bad for his brother and mother, Tangaroa blanketed her with the oceans to put out these fires. I am reminded of the Coromandel Volcanic Zone, where Rū shook so fiercely the ground erupted. Reminders of his anger are still apparent in our rohe (area) with deposits left behind of volcanic rock like obsidian. We see a lot of fire in our facility just like Rū; members use our gym to unwind from the daily struggles – after a hard and robust workout, the steam lifts and the fire dissipates with Tangaroa and his waters.
Manaakitanga – the show of love, respect, generosity and kindness to one another
This must be our favourite word/value of all time; it encompasses those values mentioned above and much more. It is everything to us, and we base our personal, business and whānau life around this important core value, which we have grown up with from our parents and their parents, mai rā āno (from way back). So, when Jason lovingly placed Rehua at the top of our gym entrance, it brought tears to my eyes; how fitting that our atua of kindness and healing is there to greet each one of our members who walks through that tomokanga. Rehua, also known as the star Antares, is the brightest star in the constellation Te Matau a Māui (Scorpius) – an indication of summertime for our tūpuna, when this star was at its brightest. ‘Ko Rehua whakaruhi tangata’ translates as ‘Rehua gives energy to man’.
Words by by Billie Hunter
Check out JT Tahatika’s work here and visit the Evolution Fitness gym website here.
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