Ockham Lecture: Wairua and design with Bernard Makoare

As part of Objectspace’s Ockham Lecture series, Bernard Makoare (Te Uri o Hau, Ngāti Whātua, Te Waiariki, Te Kaitūtae, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi-nui-tonu) offers his thoughts on what design is and who it serves. Central to his thinking is the importance of acknowledging wairua and to be attuned to the power of wairua in design practice. Traditionally taught as a wood carver, Bernard considers his creative practice as a reflection of his heritage, environments and the importance of place in whanaungatanga or relationships between people, heritage, places and significant objects.