Kōwhaiwhai
コファイファイ / 18th century– / Style / Architectural Ornament
The scroll patterns adorning the rafters of Māori meeting houses: from the koru fern shoot, symmetry, rotation and reflection unfold in red, black and white — a mathematics of curves recording genealogy and story overhead.
Repeating koru spirals / Red, black and white / Symmetry and reflection / Bands following the rafters
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Dictionary entry
- Best used for
- Comparing primary sources and canonical works · Extracting principles that transfer to other media
- Type
- Observe the letters, signs and scale of reference works
- Composition
- Extract the one structure that governs gaze and information
- Material
- Verify the materials and behaviors specific to era, region and process
- Caution
- Never borrow it as mere decorative curves. The patterns record genealogy; confirm belonging and respect toward the community.
- Further study
- the semantics of the koru / the space of the wharenui / attribution and cultural respect