The Rorschach Series
The Rorschach series explores one of the artists core themes -the subconscious-
in
particular its role in her art making. The Rorschach test* which uses evocative
inkblots
to unearth the workings of a persons subconscious mind, has been used here as a
way to
describe the artists creative process.
Two if Noa Noa’s print series “Rona and the Moon” (2009) and “The Imperfect Pull”
(2018)
have utilised the moon as an anchoring object and metaphorical symbol for the
subconscious, in this new series the subconscious becomes the driving force for
the
creation of the print. The theme is the process. In clearing her mind the artist
can be
guided by the medium, emotion and the synergy created by not attaching to an
outcome.
The Rorschach series does not refer to the look of the finished print, there are
no
cloudy ink blots in sight, there is nothing that could look like a bat with
outstretched
wings or kissing couple, it is is the process that is reminiscent of the
Rorschach test,
not the end result.
The prints are presented as completed “tests”, glimpses into the artists inner
machinations. Like the personality test after which they have been named these
prints
are a first impulse/ an interpretation and an isight into the mind of the
artist.
The artist draws from a rich cast of creatures, in settings that are evocative of
joy or
curiosity, strife and yearning, water, wood, other worlds beneath the surface.
Her Maori
heritage connects her with the pacific and the textures and patterns she uses
give her
work a strong sense of place within New Zealand.
The works although presented as completed tests are still only suggestive of
forms, the
beings are like those in a dream certain features are clear and others are lost
by our
innatention. Like the original tests, the prints have the potential to be
interpreted in
many ways, the viewer is naturally invited to see what they would like to see in
the
prints as the forms are not pre-defined.
Whales play and birds talk, the wolf is lost and questioning within the woods,
animals
flee like ghosts from the page, pigs and serpents and horned horses, livestock,
cats and
a giant dogs head all twist together to form half complete anthropomorphic
landscapes.
There is a feeling of water, of masculinity, of escape and domesticity
intermingled.
Test 1 “emergence”
This work is the starting point and inspiration for this series, it is the print
that
most closely resembles an unformed ink blot. There is an urgency to the
movement, a
bubbling up from nothingness that wishes to be freed. It is intentionally raw. I
stopped
just in time.
Test 2 “Evocation”
This print unfolded in layers of exploration and grew into its power. This is an
animalistic piece, of domestic and wild origin, they are called forth in the
great storm
of creation. There are Pharaoh dogs and mighty eagles, beasts half human half
otherworldly. This is a provocation, a call into being.
Test 3 “Puawai”
The ‘blossoming’ in Maori. This piece marks the first of the second wave of this
series,
this is where the concept of Rorschach test became an inbedded part of my
process. The
ink blots bloomed out across the board, swept out at random by a brush and
sponge. It
was a sunny day when this print began it’s journey into the light. My first
subconscious
impulse saw growth, this developed into a talkative bird. Is this now flora or
fauna?
Test 4 “Te Ngahere and the Wolf”
This print echoes the mirroring aspect of the Rorschach test, the blots were
semi
symmetrical. I was drawn to its treelike form and my minds eye drew out the
creatures of
the forest. My son Ngahere was facing a difficult period in his life and my
concern for
him comes through in this print, the dangers of the deep woods, the unanswered
questions
as well as the ripening blossoms and playful creatures above. There is fear and
love in
the tree of life.
Test 5 “Voyager”
The voyager lands on bended knees. For all his power, and all his conviction he
is but a
humble warrior on his own journey through life. This print simply followed the
first
lines of ink and this creature appeared, replete with his own capsule like
world, his
own waka for transportation. His masculinity is both his strength and his
weakness.
Test 6 “Deep Sea Dreaming”
Here come the whales, the depths of my emotion brought out these beauties, like
clergy
from the ocean these sentinels simply bubbled up and swam into being.
Test 7 “Whenua”
I felt so thankful when I picked up this board, I felt a strong sense of
gratitude for
my art making life. This work feels like a celebration of becoming. I welcomed a
cast of
strong creatures, the serpent, the horned horse, the extinct Tasmanian tiger,
and wild
boars who all needed birthing. The mother/ ancestor on the side holds all
creation in
her longer fingers. This rorschach test has come to represent my thanks to
mother earth
- my imaginings of the creator.
The Process
The big explore, the freedom to go on a long journey down the rabbit whole of my
subconscious and through so many individual ink blots to the other side. This
was a
labour of love, and an exercise in trust. I got lost in this work many times,
each
section was a miniature that came together as a whole, a land with many beings.
Please
do not restrict your viewing to the landscape format this print is presented in,
head
tilting is recommended to see your way around this multidimensional world.
*The Rorschach test is a
psychological test
in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analysed uses
psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists
use this
test to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional
functioning. It has
been employed to detect underlying issues, especially in cases where patients
are
reluctant to describe their thinking processes openly.The test is named after
its
creator, Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach. The images themselves are only
one
component of the test, whose focus is the analysis of the perception of the
images.
