The Art of Resistance: is a Wahine Māori activist art exhibition. As contemporary Māori artists, this alliance of wahine use their art as a tool for highlighting and educating injustices in the colonisation of all indigenous people. This exhibition is created in direct response to colonisation’s ongoing effect on people and place, in Aotearoa.
Art is the safest protesting tool in the tino Rangatiratanga movement. Paradoxically, it is also a healing art for all people both Māori and Pakeha. Healing trauma is a major component of Wahine Activist Art. All Māori retain their heritage, Nga Maori Toi, by upholding and creating cultural narratives through self expression and specifically in this exhibition of protest art creation.
The wahine Artists are: Robyn Kahukiwa, Kura Te Waru, Charlotte Graham, Emily Karaka, Dianne Prince, Linda Munn, Suzanne Tamaki, Andrea Hopkins, Tawera Tahuri, Ngahina Hohaia, Natalie Robertson, and Tracey Tawhiao.
These wahine are kaupapa Māori-driven artists. Their work has continuously highlighted the colonisation inequities and cultural destruction. It is innate in who they are and the art they create. Activism Art is post-colonial art. It is art made in direct response to the colonisation agenda.
This show is the creation of new narratives and knowledge and represents high quality art created for this Kaupapa 2022. The exhibition exemplifies what contemporary art is today. It challenges our collective histories and futures.
Kaupapa Māori Activist Art reminds our country of our true lived history without the interruption of the colonial erasure of that lived experience.
The exhibition is at Northart Public Gallery, Northcote from 15th March – 15th May with the support of Creative New Zealand.
The opening is Sunday 13 March, 4 – 6 PM.
