Te Arerenga

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In April 2016, Alexander Luiten from Landscape and Ecology spent a week at the Te Arerenga Project in preparation for an artists residency he had been invited to undertake in early 2017. During the visit, he encountered a relaxed sensibility, both from the locals and the way they build their structures.  It encouraged thought towards a project that works with the Rarotongan flow of life.

The experience inspired Alexander, and Auckland artist, Hannah Valentine, to create an installation that will remain on-site to be used by visitors and residents. A space for relaxation and contemplation.

Influenced by the modesty of the structures both at Te Arerenga and more broadly across the island, the first part of their proposed idea was to create a low lying hammock structure.  This holds 2-3 people at a time, which is cohesive with the fale layout. The structure functions as an outdoor space for visitors to engage with physically, where they can draw, think, relax, or otherwise.  With views of the mountains, the sky, and surrounding palms, it is an open space to rest, fully immersed in one’s surroundings.

The second part to the project revolved around the sustainability of land at the Te Arerenga project. While staying on the island in April, Alexander and Hannah visited the Cook Island Ministry of Agriculture to investigate the potential to improve the ability to grow fruit and vegetable crops on-site, as part of an integrated approach. It started with an investigation into the soil structure on Rarotonga. It is essential to understand soil behavior and performance, as this can make nutrient management a challenge.

As various soils act in very different ways, there is no single nutrient management strategy that can be applied to all soils.  As a result, the approach to improved sustainability at the Te Arerenga project was to be experimental in process and implementation.

The proposal seeks to improve the structure of the soil, by raising the surface tension of the site,  mixing the basaltic alluvial soils of the interior coastal margin with the sandy exterior soils of Te Arerenga to a level that supports healthy nutrient uptake and water holding capacity. This experimental process would see channels dug extensively throughout the site. The sand removed would be re-distributed, and the mixed sandy loam would be reinstated.

Further development of this project would see organic material created by the residency integrated into the process that will improve soil structure.

A project in two parts, comprised of a functional, low lying hammock, and a shift in soils to promote growth and sustainability, was Alexander and Hannah's response to the land and project Te Arerenga.  They aimed to leave a lasting trace that will benefit artists and visitors in the future. Building on ideas present in the construction of the project, They brought our own sensibilities and hoped to leave with a deeper connection to the land and culture.

Collaborator: Hannah Valentine