Tauranga Art Gallery Toi Tauranga is delighted to announce the opening of He kāwai whenua He kāwai whakapapa, an exhibition by local artist Maraea Timutimu (Tūhoe, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui).
He kāwai whenua He kāwai whakapapa addresses the centrality of whenua within mātauranga Māori and the ways it can connect us to our stories, histories, identities and whakapapa. Timutimu presents a suite of large-scale colour photographs that are a playon portraiture; stones and rocks are collected from the waterways of her maternal and paternal kāinga at Matapihi, Tauranga Moana, and Rūātoki, Eastern Bay of Plenty. They are composed into totemic forms that poetically stand in for people and places that are important to the artist.
These photographic portraits provide a unique insight into the connectedness of whenua and whakapapa through a Māori lens. “When we view whenua in its natural state, we see that it is made up of layers. These layers all have a whakapapa, derived from the natural pigments of Papatūānuku (mother earth) connecting it to place and time. It depicts us and the makeup of our individual genealogy” says Timutimu.
Tauranga Art Gallery Director Stephen Cleland says: “We’re immensely excited to be unveiling Maraea’s new suite of artworks in the Gallery. Viewed alongside painter Ayesha Green’s current solo-exhibition and a forthcoming large-scale installation by multimedia artist Shannon Te Ao, Timutimu’s poignant reflections on the interconnectedness of whenua and whakapapa promise to be an invaluable contribution to our summer line up.”
Maraea Timutimu holds a Master of Fine Arts from Whitecliffe College. Her work centres around pattern, narrative and community, and uses the concept of whakapapa to inform her practice, process and method of making. Alongside her artmaking she works for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust, as Project Lead for Te Tai Whanake ki Tauranga Moana. This involves the development of a Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Curriculum for kura Māori and mainstream education providers in Tauranga Moana.
He kāwai whenua He kāwai whakapapa is complemented by a suite of public programmes outlined below.
Creative drawing workshops – the last Sunday of every month
Sunday 30 October and Sunday 27 November
Maraea Timutimu will take participants on a photographic journey, discovering alternatives to portraiture and using whenua as a means of self-representation.
Koha appreciated; limited spaces available. Bookings made here.
Artists’ talk, in celebration of two new exhibitions opening at TAG
Saturday 12 November, no booking required, free entry
Artists Maraea Timutimu and Shannon Te Ao speak about their practices and new work exhibited in the gallery.
Maraea Timutimu in conversation with her parents Charles and Ngareta Timutimu
6pm, Friday 25 November
Tracing whakapapa through stories of life and whenua – join us for an intimate evening of kōrero between the artist and her parents.
Refreshments provided, further information on Tauranga Art Gallery’s website.
Matapihi hikoi with Maraea Timutimu
Sunday 12 February
Join Maraea as she takes us on a guided walk from her exhibition at Tauranga Art Gallery to Matapihi, followed by kai and music.
Reservations through Tauranga Art Gallery’s website, participation free.
