The Tauranga Historic Village will soon be adorned with a new mural created in collaboration between two Indigenous artists as part of a new initiative being rolled out by the Incubator Creative Hub to build the capability of indigenous artists to help them engage and collaborate with each other in a global perspective.
Artists engaged in the project are local iwi and contemporary Māori artist Arohanoa Mathews (Ngaiterangi) and international Surrealist mural artist Pablo Ruiz (Bolivia).
Arohanoa is a current resident artist of the Satellite Studios Artist exchange programme and has a wealth of experience in the arts and education. She has exhibited in Auckland, Perth and Los Angeles most recently completing a Mural in Matata, ‘Mana Wahine, Mana Whanau’ in collaboration with the Matata Community.
Arohanoa is more recently known for her ‘Mana Wahine’ painted series and her popular clothing line Arohanoa Artistry.
Raíz also participant in the Incubator’s Satellite studios artist exchange programme (Pablo Ruiz) is an international muralist from La Paz, Bolivia. He has painted murals throughout North and South America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. He has participated in live painting installations, contemporary dance performances and jazz festivals. His watercolour artwork has featured in international competitions and has had exhibited paintings in museums in Bolivia and the USA. He contributed to the public art of Spokane Washington USA during an artist residency in 2018 and with the support of the Latin Collective and directed by Chilean muralist Alfonso Ruiz Pajaritohas recently contributed to a mural commemorating Latin mural art in Wellington New Zealand. He is currently exploring tying in his roots of Andian narrative with cultures and mythology around the world.
The collaborative work titled Kotahitanga, faces the outdoor Amphitheatre adjacent to Okorere House (the Historic Faulkner homestead) and depicts the theme of ‘Unity’. Both Artists’ interpretations are portrayed from the perspectives of Tangata Whenua (People of the Land) and Manuhiri (Visitor/Guest).
Team Leader of The Historic Village Blair Graham says, “The mural will be a focal point in the revived Brook Street area of The Historic Village. The outdoor Amphitheatre gets used for many events including weddings. Having this work as the back drop to events which are all about unity or togetherness makes total sense and the idea of two artists from very different cultures coming together to collaborate on a work about coming together is exciting. I’m really looking forward to seeing it complete.”
You can find both Artists around The Historic Village in the week leading up to Easter weekend and after the Easter Break.
Nau mai, haere mai koutou katoa!
The Incubator Creative Hub
07 571 3232
