Client
Bridget Williams Books
Bridget Williams Books
Deliverables
Publication cover design
Publication cover design
In Jeff Sissons’ retelling of the 1856 prophetic movement led by Tāmati Te Ito, Kaingārara translates to ‘lizard eaters.’ This term, drawing from Māori cosmology, symbolises spiritual entities capable of empowering or threatening leaders by assuming the form of lizards. Te Ito, leader of 'the reptile eaters', and his adherents engaged in rituals and performances aimed at combating these spiritual threats, symbolically 'eating' them to cleanse the land of tapu.
The cover design is directly inspired by the Kaingārara movement. Research into Taranaki whakairo inspired the intricate lizard motifs that form the cover pattern, complemented by a font echoing the serpentine curves of these depictions. In the background, a subtle cosmos pattern alludes to tātai which, akin to whakapapa, signifies the divine order and structure.
The colour palette for the design draws from Ralph Hotere’s 1972 painting Comet over Mount Egmont (Taranaki) and Parihaka (Tūnui-a-te-ika kei runga o Taranaki me Parihaka). This chromatic harmony reflects the thematic alignment of place and cultural history to contribute to the overall visual narrative.