PhotoForum Online Exhibition - Sara Orme
Essay by Natalie Robertson
Darling, tēnei au—I am here, where you are, back here.
The scene is so familiar—I feel instant recognition, stirring recollections of swimming in the same river, in the exact same place where Darling lies on the riverbank. Tarawera is both mountain-woman and river-woman; Tarawera, the river of Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau, the river of tears spilt when her partner Putauaki headed off in search of hot, steamy love embodied by Whakaari, who lies out at sea. I feel deep bodily memories of heading to the river which bordered our school, Kawerau College. On hot summer days, during lunchtimes, we would jump into the cool waters in our blue-checked cotton school uniforms then lay down on the rocks to dry off before the bell rang. ....
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