Contemporary Māori creative arts in spotlight

Contemporary Māori creative arts in spotlight

Māori artists and designers exhibit in a new Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival feature on Auckland Anniversary Weekend
SUMMARY
• Leading and upcoming Māori artists and fashion designers are exhibiting at the 2018 Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival.
• The festival takes place at the Viaduct Events Centre and Viaduct Basin on Auckland Anniversary Weekend.
• The new contemporary art and fashion section will also feature artists’ korero and workshops.
• The collection covers painters, sculptors, fashion and jewellery designers, carvers, weavers, multi-media artists, printmakers and glass artists.
• Auckland Art Gallery is presenting works, workshops and talks by artists Charlotte Graham and Emily Karaka, and the Toi Māori group exhibition is curated by Auckland Council’s Activate Auckland team.
•

Forty-one Māori artists and designers will exhibit their work in a new Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival feature on Auckland Anniversary Weekend, at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre and Viaduct Basin.

Level two of the festival is dedicated to contemporary Maori creative arts, showcasing everything from sculpture, carving and weaving, to fashion design, multi-media and digital arts.
The zone will be divided into three.

Auckland Art Gallery is presenting works by Charlotte Graham and Emily Karaka, a digital exhibition, and Charlotte Graham doing talks and free printmaking workshops.

Next door, Auckland Council’s Activate Auckland team has curated the Toi Māori group exhibition of contemporary artists working in a range of different media, artist korero sessions, poi-making workshops, artist demonstrations, story-telling, and acoustic musical performances.

The third zone will feature the work of Māori digital content companies, including the new Pipi Mā web cartoon series, and digital apps and games which help players learn basic te reo or Māori history.

The contemporary arts focus is a new element of the three-year-old festival, which is driven by Mana Whenua of Tāmaki Makaurau in partnership with Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) on behalf of Auckland Council.

ATEED General Manager Destination Steve Armitage says the wider festival team were keen to support the Māori creative sector.

“It’s been great for our festival production team to work with the Mana Whenua Steering Group, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Council’s Activate Auckland team and artists across a wide range of disciplines to present festival-goers with a varied, exciting and interactive showcase of Māori creative arts.”
“There are so many talented Māori artists who don’t get the exposure their work deserves. This gives both established and emerging artists a platform to share their work with a wider audience. We’re also pleased to have a mix of artists on site over the weekend.

“Festival goers can hear the artists talk about their work in the artists’ korero, and we also hope this is an opportunity for the artists to network and collaborate with each other, particularly a chance for the younger artists to connect with the more experienced ones.”

Festival Mana Whenua Steering Group Chair Hau Rawiri says the festival’s creative programme is another way the region’s Mana Whenua can provide the platform for the people of Tāmaki Makaurau to learn about and understand each other.

“Creative endeavours – art, food, music, apparel and adornment – are so central to our lives and our cultures, and to all cultures. Creating and enjoying these things are something most cultures have in common, and across our cultures younger artists are influenced by the artisans, artists and traditions that came before them.”
Featured artists are:

Painters
Natasha Keating
Te Marunui Hotene
Tame Iti
Hemi Kiwikiwi
Jimmy Kouratoras
Emily Karaka
Selwyn Vercoe
Regan Balzer
Enuake Sirikige
Andy Turner (and sculpture)
Charlotte Graham (and installation)

Oil pastels
Raukura Turei

Sculpture/Carving
Nigel Scanlon
Natasha Smyser
Lawrence Makoare
Natanahira Pora
Bob Tekahiwi How
Tom Mokoare
Tai Mueli
Karam Mueli
William Theodore

Printmaking
Numangatini Mackenzie

Fashion designers
Rosanna Raymond (and taonga)
Jeanine Clarkin
Shona Tawhiao
Maehe Ranginui (and furniture)
Adrienne Whitewood
Pia Boutique
Kharl Wirepa
Dmonic Intent

Taonga
Ernesto Ovalle
Ngahina Hohaia

Weaving
Ruth Woodbury
Beronia Scott
Tanya White
Te Atiwei Ririnui

Glass
Fred Harrison
Mei Hill

Multimedia
Natalie Couch (and printmaking)
Bethany Edmonds
Tracey Tawhiao

• For more information about the Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival, its kaupapa and the daily programme of workshops, talks and performances, go toaucklandnz.com/tamakifestival

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